the summer months than that of Judea and the south Jordan Valley Hot desert winds (sirocco) plagued the plateau lands east of the Jordan This was one of the main reasons for sparse population there in biblical times.33 Climate is distinguished from weather in that climate is the prevailing atmospheric condition over a period of time, whereas weather is the condition at a particular time The accompanying weather map (Map I) of the Bible lands shows the weather pattern that prevailed there on the last of the Passover (Pesah) week, April 22, 1978 The weather on that day in the environs of Jerusalem was typical for the date and place: partly cloudy, mild (around 70° F.), light wind A high pressure ridge extended from Egypt to Syria and blocked the frontal systems (North Africa to Asia Minor) from moving into Palestine The Passover week is in the transition between the cool, wet winter and warm, dry summer seasons, and so extreme weather is not the rule during those weeks The weather was very supportive of the hundreds of thousands of Jews who traveled to Jerusalem to worship on Passover, the most important festival of the year D EVERYDAY LIFE IN PALESTINE The New Testament was written by Orientals about Orientals People of Western cultures need to keep that in mind to better appreciate the Bible stories and testimonies coming out of those ancient times Fortunately, the foundational doctrines, such as man’s sinfulness and God’s holiness, which are taught in that Oriental setting are timeless and universal So the Bible is not a closed book to those not acquainted with the everyday life of the inhabitants of Palestine But it can be sharper and clearer if that setting at least is mentally visualized and felt MAP I Bible dictionaries and commentaries are among the best sources for learning the local settings of the New Testament text Also, there are books that speci cally discuss this subject, such as A C Bouquet, Everyday Life in New Testament Times; and Fred H Wight, Manners and Customs of Bible Lands.34 It is beyond the scope of this introductory chapter to describe in detail the typical, everyday life in Palestine during New Testament times The following list is ...in the transition between the cool, wet winter and warm, dry summer seasons, and so extreme weather is not the rule during those weeks The weather was very supportive of the hundreds of thousands... among the best sources for learning the local settings of the New Testament text Also, there are books that speci cally discuss this subject, such as A C Bouquet, Everyday Life in New Testament. .. of the hundreds of thousands of Jews who traveled to Jerusalem to worship on Passover, the most important festival of the year D EVERYDAY LIFE IN PALESTINE The New Testament was written by Orientals