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Bible Encyclopedias
Crafts
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
or I. Sources of Our Knowledge of the Crafts of the Bible
1. Written Records and Discoveries of Craftsmanship
(1) Jewish
(2) Canaanitish and Phoenician
(3) Assyrian and Babylonian
(4) Egyptian
II. Crafts Mentioned in the Bible
1. Brickmaking
2. Carpentering (Wood-Working)
3. Carving (Engraving)
4. Ceramics
5. Dyeing and Cleansing
6. Embroidering (Needlework)
7. Glass-Making
8. Grinding
9. Mason Work
10. Metal-Working (Mining)
11. Oil-Making
12. Painting
13. Paper-Making
14. Perfume-Making
15. Plastering
16. Spinning and Weaving
17. Tanning
18. Tent-Making
19. Wine-Making
III. Craftsmen
Literature
I. Sources of Our Knowledge of the Crafts of the Bible
1. Written Records and Discoveries of Craftsmanship
Our knowledge of the arts and crafts of Bible times has come to us through two principal ways. First, from Biblical, Assyrian, Babylonian and Egyptian written records. Of these the Egyptian are the most illuminating. Second, from examples of ancient handicraft which have been buried and preserved through many centuries and brought to light again by modern discoveries.
(1) Jewish
The chief written documents from which we may learn about Hebrew handicraft are the Bible records. A study of what few references there are leads us to believe that before the Israelites came in contact with the people of Canaan and Phoenicia they had not developed any considerable technical skill (1 Kings 5:6; 1 Chronicles 14:1; 2 Chronicles 2:7 , 2 Chronicles 2:14; Ezra 3:7 ). Some of the simpler operations, such as the spinning and weaving of the common fabrics and the shaping of domestic utensils, were performed in the household (Exodus 35:25 , Exodus 35:26 ) but the weaving and dyeing of fine fabrics, carving, inlaying, metal-working, etc., was the work of foreigners, or was learned by the Jews after the Exodus, from the dwellers in Palestine
The Jews, however, gradually developed skill in many of these crafts. It is believed that as early as Nehemiah's time, Jewish craftsmen had organized into guilds (Nehemiah 3:8 , Nehemiah 3:31 , Nehemiah 3:32 ). In post-Biblical times the Jews obtained monopolies in some of the industries, as for example, glass-making and dyeing. These trades remained the secrets of certain families for generations. It is because of this secrecy and the mystery that surrounded these trades, and is still maintained in many places, that we know so little as to how they were conducted. Until recently the principal indigo dyers in Damascus were Jews, and the Jews shared with Moslem craftsmen the right to make glass. In some of the Syrian cities Jewish craftsmen are now outnumbering other native workmen in certain trades.
Few examples of Hebrew handicraft have been discovered by the archaeologists which shed much light upon early Hebrew work. Aside from the pottery of the Israelite period, and a few seals and coins, no traces of Hebrew workmanship remain. It is even doubtful how many of the above objects are really the work of this people.
(2) Canaanitish and Phoenician
It is generally conceded that what technical skill the Hebrews acquired resulted from their contact with the Canaanites and Phoenicians. Frequent mention of the workmanship of these peoples is made in the Bible, but their own records are silent. Ezekiel's account of the glories of Tyre (Ezek 27) gives some idea of the reputation of that city for craftsmanship: "Thy builders have perfected thy beauty" (Ezekiel 27:4 ); "Syria was thy merchant ... Damascus was thy merchant for the multitude of thy handiworks" (Ezekiel 27:16 , Ezekiel 27:18 ). Adad-nirari
"Variegated cloth, linen, an ivory bed, a seat of inlaid ivory, a table" were among the captured articles. These were probably Phoenician work.
Many examples of Phoenician craftsmanship have been discovered. These are characterized, from the standpoint of art, by a crudeness which distinguishes them from the more delicately and artistically wrought work of their teachers, the Babylonians and Egyptians. The credit remains, however, to the Phoenicians of introducing skilled workmanship into Palestine. The Phoenicians, too, furnished the means of intercourse between the Babylonians and Egyptians. From the very earliest times there was an interchange of commodities and ideas between the people of the Nile and those of the Tigris and Euphrates.
(3) Assyrian and Babylonian
The Babylonians and Assyrians made few references to their own handicraft in their records, but the explorers of recent years have revealed many examples of the remarkable workmanship of the early inhabitants of Mesopotamia. In referring to a silver vase found in that country (Telloh), dating from the 4th millennium bc, Clay (see "Literature") says "the whole is exceedingly well rendered and indicates remarkable skill, which in no respect is less striking than that of Egyptian contemporaries in this handicraft." Jewelry, weapons, votive images, various utensils, tools of many kinds, statues in the hardest stones, delicately wrought, gems, dating from the times of Abraham and earlier, lead us to ask when these people acquired their skill.
2. and 3. Egyptian and Post-Biblical Craftsmanship:
(4) Egyptian
The written records of Egypt are doubly important, because they not only refer to the various crafts, but also illustrate the processes by drawings which can leave no doubt as to how the workmen accomplished their ends. The extensive explorations in Egypt have given to the world many priceless relics of craftsmanship, some of them dating from the very dawn of civilization. Among the ruins of early Syrian and Palestinian cities are found numerous objects witnessing to the skill of the Egyptians. These objects and the evidences of the influence of their work on the Phoenician arts show the part that the Egyptians played in moulding the ideas of the workmen who were chosen to build the temple at Jerusalem. In the following brief summary of the crafts mentioned in the Bible, it will be noticeable how well they may be illustrated by the monuments of the Nile country. To confirm the knowledge derived from the above sources, post-Biblical writings and some of the present-day customs in Bible lands are valuable. These will be mentioned in discussing the various crafts.
II. Crafts Mentioned in the Bible
(For a more detailed treatment of the crafts see under separate articles.)
1. Brickmaking
This industry probably originated in Babylonia, but the knowledge of the process was early carried to Egypt, where later the Hebrews, along with other captives, were driven to making the bricks of the Egyptian kings. The making of sun-dried bricks called for little skill, but the firing and glazing of bricks required trained workmen. See BRICK .
2. Carpentering (Wood-Working)
Wood was extensively used by ancient builders. With the exception of the Egyptian antiquities, little remains but the records to indicate this fact. Numerous references are made to the carpenter work in building the temple and subsequent repairing of this structure (1 Kings 5:6; 2 Chronicles 2:3; 2 Kings 12:11; 2 Chronicles 24:12; 2 Kings 22:6; Ezra 3:7; Ezra 4:1 ). David's house and that of Solomon and his favorite wife were made partly of wood. In the story of the building of the tabernacle, wood-working is mentioned (Ex 25). The people of Tyre built ships of cypress, with masts of cedar wood and oars of oak (Ezekiel 27:5 , Ezekiel 27:6 ). Idols were carved from wood (Deuteronomy 29:17; 2 Kings 19:18; Isaiah 37:19; Isaiah 45:20 ). The Philistines built a wooden cart to carry the ark (1 Samuel 6:7 ). Threshing instruments and yokes were made of wood (2 Samuel 24:22 ). Ezra read the law from a pulpit of wood (Nehemiah 8:4 ). Solomon's chariots were made of wood (Song of Solomon 3:9 ). Inlaid work, still a favorite form of decoration in Syria, was used by the Phoenicians (Ezekiel 27:6 ). How the ancient carpenters did their work can assumed from the Egyptian monuments. Some of the operations there pictured are still performed in the same ways. See TOOLS; CARPENTER .
3. Carving (Engraving)
The terms "carving" and "engraving" are used interchangeably in translating Old Testament passages. The first mention made of engraved objects is the signet of Judah (Genesis 38:18 ). The art of engraving on various hard objects, such as clay, bone, ivory, metals and precious stones, probably came from Mesopotamia. The Hebrews learned engraving from the Canaanites. The nature of this engraving is shown by the Assyrian cylinders and Egyptian scarabs. It is doubtful how many of the signets found in Palestine are Hebrew work, as the engraved devices are mostly Phoenician or Egyptian. From the earliest times it has been the custom in the Orient for men of affairs to carry constantly with them their signets. The seal was set in a ring, or, as was the case with Judah, and as the Arabs do today, it was worn on a cord suspended about the neck. One of the present-day sights in a Syrian city street is the engraver of signets, seated at his low bench ready to cut on one of his blank seals the buyer's name or sign.
The second form of carving is suggested by the Decalogue (Exodus 20:4 ). The commandment explains why sculpturing remained undeveloped among the Jews, as it has to this day among the Moslems. In spite of the commandment, however, cherubim were carved on the wooden fittings of the temple interior (1 Kings 6:23 ).
Among the peoples with whom the Jews came in contact, stone-cutting had reached a high degree of perfection. No stone proved too hard for their tools. In Egyptian and Phoenician tombs the carving was often done on plastered surfaces. See CARVING .
4. Ceramics
Both the Egyptians and Babylonians were skilled in molding and baking objects of clay. The early Babylonian records consist of burnt clay tablets. Glazed bricks formed an important decorative feature. In Egypt, idols, scarabs and amulets were often made of fired clay, glazed or unglazed. By far the most important branch of ceramic art was the making of jars for holding water or other liquids. These jars have been used throughout the East from earliest times. The Jews learned what they knew about this art from the Phoenicians. See
5. Dyeing and Cleansing
Dyeing is one of the oldest of the crafts. The only references to the act of dyeing in the Bible are (a) in connection with the dyed skins of animals (Exodus 25:5; Exodus 26:14 ), and (b) Judges 5:30 . That it was a highly developed trade is implied in the many other references to dyed stuffs both in the Bible and in profane literature. Cleansing was done by the fuller, who was probably a dyer also. See
6. Embroidering (Needlework)
Very little is known of the work of embroidering, further than that it was the working-in of color designs on cloth. In Ezekiel 27:7 we learn that it was one of the exports of Egypt. See EMBROIDERY .
7. Glass-Making
In Deuteronomy 33:19 "hidden treasures of the sand" is interpreted by some to mean the making of glass objects from the sand. There can be no question about the Hebrews being acquainted with glass-making, as its history extends back to very early times. The Egyptians and Phoenicians made bottles, glass beads, idols, etc. These objects are among those usually found in the tombs. Glass beads of very early manufacture were found in the mound at Gezer. Some of the pigments used for painting were made of powdered colored glass. In the New Testament we read of the "sea of glass like unto crystal" ( Revelation 4:6 ). See GLASS .
8. Grinding
Grinding was a domestic task and can hardly be classed as one of the crafts. When flour was needed, the housewife, or more likely the servant, rubbed the wheat or barley between two millstones (see MILLSTONE ) or, with a rounded river stone, crushed the wheat on a large flat stone. It is still a common custom in Syria and Palestine for two women to work together as indicated in Matthew 24:41 and Luke 17:35 . Grinding of meal was a menial task, considered the employment of a concubine; hence, setting Samson to grinding at the mill was intended as a disgrace.
9. Mason Work
The rhythmic sound of the stone cutter at his work never ceases in the prosperous oriental city. It is more common today, however, than in the earlier centuries when only high officials could afford stone houses. Frequently only the temple or shrines or tombs of a city were made of stone. As such buildings were very common, and much attention was paid to every detail of their construction, there was developed an efficient corps of masons, especially in Egypt and Syria. When the Israelites abandoned their nomadic life, among the first things that they planned were permanent places of worship. As these developed into structures more pretentious than mere piles of stones, the builders naturally resorted to the skill of the master builders of the country. A visitor to Jerusalem may still see the work of the ancient masons. The so-called Solomon's quarries under the city, the great drafted stones of the temple area, belong to an early date. The very shape of the masons' tools may be determined from the marks on the stones. See MASON .
10. Metal-Working (Mining)
Among the oldest objects that have been preserved are those of silver, gold and bronze. These are proof that the ancients understood the various processes of mining, smelting, refining and working of metals. See
11. Oil-Making
The oil referred to in the Bible is olive oil. Pliny mentions many other oils which were extracted in Egypt. The oils were usually extracted by first crushing the fruit and then pressing the crushed mass. At Gezer,
12. Painting
One who has visited the tombs and temples of Egypt will never forget the use which the ancient Egyptian painters made of colors. The otherwise somber effect produced by expansive plain walls was overcome by sculpturing, either in relief or intaglio, on a coating of stucco, and then coloring these engravings in reds, yellows, greens and blues. Architectural details were also painted. The capitals of columns and the columns themselves received special attention from the painter. Colors were similarly used by the Greeks and Phoenicians. In the Sidon tombs, at Palmyra and similar ruins, traces of painting are still evident. See PAINTING .
13. Paper-Making
The word "paper" occurs twice, once in the Old Testament (Isaiah 19:7 the King James Version) and once in New Testament ( 2 John 1:12 ). In Isaiah 19:7 the Revised Version (British and American) renders "paper reeds," "meadows." PAPYRUS (which see) occurs in Isaiah 18:2 and the Revised Version, margin of Exodus 2:3 . The nearest approach to our paper which the ancients possessed was that made from a species of papyrus. The process consisted in spreading out, side by side, long strips of the inner lining of the papyrus reed, then over these other strips at right angles to the first, afterward soaking with some adhesive material and finally pressing and drying. Sheets made in this way were fastened together with glue into a long scroll. The Greek for papyrus plant is "
14. Perfume-Making
The art of perfume-making dates back to the ancient Egyptians. In Exodus 30:35 we have the first mention of scented anointing oils. The perfumers' (the King James Version "confectioner" or "apothecary") products were used ( a ) for religious rites as offerings and to anoint the idols and (b ) for personal use on the body or clothes. Some perfumes were powders (incense); others were scented oils or fats (ointments). See
15. Plastering
(The King James Version "Plaistering.") The trade of plastering dates back to the beginning of the history of building. There were two reasons for using plastering or stucco: ( a ) to render the buildings more resisting to the weather and (b ) to make the surfaces more suitable for decoration by engraving or painting. See
16. Spinning and Weaving
The arts of spinning and weaving were early practiced in the household (Exodus 35:25 ). Many different fibers were spun and woven into cloth. Fabrics of wool, cotton, flax, silk, wood fiber have been preserved from Bible times. In the more progressive communities, the weaving of the fabrics was taken over by the weavers who made it their profession. In 1 Chronicles 4:21 it is stated that many of the families of the house of Asbea were workers in fine linen. The modern invasion of European manufacturers has not yet driven out the weavers who toil at looms much like those described by the ancient Egyptian drawings. See SPINNING; WEAVING .
17. Tanning
Although it is known that tanning was practiced, the only reference to this trade mentioned in the Bible is to Simon the tanner (Acts 9:43; Acts 10:6 , Acts 10:32 ). Leather girdles are mentioned in 2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4 . Relics taken from the tombs show that the ancients understood the various methods for preserving skins which are used in present-day practice. See TANNER .
18. Tent-Making
We think of Paul as the tent-maker. The tents which he made however were probably not like those so frequently referred to in the Old Testament. Tents in Paul's time were made from Cilician cloth. Paul's work was probably the sewing together of the proper lengths of cloth and the attaching of ropes and loops. In Old Testament times the tents were made of strips of coarse goat's hair cloth or of the skins of animals. See TENT .
19. Wine-Making
This article is being written within sound of festivities about the winepresses of Mt. Lebanon where men and women are gathered for the annual production of wine and molasses (Arabic,
III. Craftsmen
Craftsmen were early segregated into groups. A trade usually remained in a family. This is true to some extent in the East today. In such cities as Beirût, Damascus, or Aleppo the shops of the craftsmen of a given trade will be found grouped together. There is a silver and goldsmiths' market (Arabic
Literature
Perrot and Chipiez, History of Art in Sardinia , Judea , etc .; History of Art in Ancient Egypt; History of Art in Phoenicia and Cyprus; Wilkinson, The Ancient Egyptians; Macalister, Bible Side-Lights from the Mound of Gezer; Standard Dict. of the Bible; Bliss, Macalister and Wünsch, Excavations in Palestine; Hilprext, Explorations in Bible Lands during the 19th Century; Harper, The Bible and Modern Discoveries; Delitzsch, Jewish Artisan Life , etc.; Clay, Light on the Old Testament from Babel; Jewish Encyclopedia .
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Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Crafts'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/c/crafts.html. 1915.
