stone jar

During the first century AD there arose amongst the Jews a dire concern about what was "clean" and what was "unclean". By their sanitary laws water that was touched by something unclean became unclean and the pottery vessel holding the water also became unclean. A stone vessel was thought to be clean and could not be made unclean. The Jews used stone vessels to hold water for the ritual cleansing of those who were unclean according to the laws in the first five books of the Bible. This stone vessel was the largest I saw in all of Israel at the Eretz museum near some old olive presses and wine pressing area. This jar might have been used to store olive oil or wine, if not water.

There were elaborately carved limestone water storage vessels found in Israel; they were found in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem in use in the first century. Numerous organizations with collections on public display have policies forbidding photography. This photo is of a stone jar from Qumran. It was made from soft limestone turned on a lathe.

BACK TO ANTIQUITIES	Eretz Museum, Tel Aviv, 2002 During the first century AD there arose amongst the Jews a dire concern about what was "clean" and what was "unclean". By their sanitary laws water that was touched by something unclean became unclean and the pottery vessel holding the water also became unclean. A stone vessel was thought to be clean and could not be made unclean. The Jews used stone vessels to hold water for the ritual cleansing of those who were unclean according to the laws in the first five books of the Bible. This stone vessel was the largest I saw in all of Israel at the Eretz museum near some old olive presses and wine pressing area. This jar might have been used to store olive oil or wine, if not water. There were elaborately carved limestone water storage vessels found in Israel; they were found in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem in use in the first century. Numerous organizations with collections on public display have policies forbidding photography. This photo is of a stone jar from Qumran. It was made from soft limestone turned on a lathe. Qumran 2006 John 2 -- ASV Jesus Changes Water to Wine 1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." 4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." 11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. BACK TO ANTIQUITIES

John 2 -- ASV

Jesus Changes Water to Wine

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there,
2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."
4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."
5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so,
9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside
10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."
11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

BACK TO ANTIQUITIES