The average dwelling in the Biblical era consisted of three rooms for the wife to keep: two bedrooms off a main living area. This common home consisted of an enclosed courtyard that surrounded the front of the house. Furniture was a minimal and consisted primarily of a low dining table of oak to recline or work at, a simple upright loom and stool, and grass mats. Bed mattresses were of a thin cloth stuffed with feathers. These mattresses were folded up during the day and stored in the wooden linen chest. A fire pit in the living room area served for warmth. Clay olive oil lamps sat on small alcove shelves in the plaster walls, on simple metal lampstands, or turned over bushel baskets. An open window and door, curtained when desired, along with baskets and ceramic ware, a few cookpots and metal cooking utensils, a broom, a handmill for grains, goatskin bottles and a wooden chest completed the physical furnishings of the home.
MEAL TIMES
Breakfast would then be prepared and served to the family, followed by washing dishes. By sunrise she and the younger children would take their daily walk to the well for fresh water and a bit of socializing. If a large amount of water was needed for washing, the men folk took care of the chore. Within the hour her daily work of sweeping, filling lamps, weaving, mending, and washing would be underway.
A couple days a week, she bought supplies from the open-air market. Gardening and preparing flax for spinning were all part of her morning work if she did not have children old enough to employ in these duties. Depending on her husband's profession and the accomplishments of her morning routine, lunch would be served anytime between 12 and 4pm.
AFTERNOON CHORES
Afternoon chores usually consisted of a quieter and less strenuous work probably due to the heat. These chores would include making curds, spinning, dyeing yarn, churning butter and more weaving or sewing.
Supper was usually sometime between 4 pm and dusk. Grain grinding was usually done in the evening for the next day's baking needs. A thorough cleaning of everything, inside and out, was done by the Jews prior to Passover, constituting a spring cleaning.
WORKDAY RHYTHMNS
It was during this time in history that the old wives' rhyme was derived to help cope with the extensive work. Historic daily house chores still included making beds, doing dishes, sweeping dusting and cooking.
wash on Monday
Iron on Tuesday
Mend on Wednesday
Churn on Thursday
Clean on Friday
Bake on Saturday
Rest on Sunday
GENERALLY SPEAKING
Teach yourself to work fast and try to complete a task before and interruption. Breakfast dishes and a pan can be quickly washed withing a few minutes. 15 minutes total including putting the food away. No waste, please..... peelings go into the compost and clean dishes back into the cupboard.
SCHEDULING POINTERS
If no toys are allowed for school age children before the school day is completed, it will save undue problems. Use a check-off list for each child that requires mom's signature after a section of work is completed. Use the list as a motivator.
In winter evenings, do handwork like hemming, quilting, knitting, letter writing, and/or reading. During summer work in the garden. School-age children can do this same routine.
Make Saturdays a special project/shopping day. Include waxing of floors, cleaning windows, organizing cupboards, drawers and closets. Have family wind down to be finished with all chores, work, play, etc., by 4pm in anticipation of the Lord's day. Everyone helps last minute clean-up and preparation for Sunday and Sunday guests. Supper should be earlier and of lighter fare for easier clean-up.
Tune in next week for a suggested daily basic schedule and some general guidelines for children's bedtimes.
Until then, Happy Homemaking!!!
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