Page 54 - Holyland Magazine - 2017 Edition

branches of the tree were not included
unless it was for a seven-year period. This
is the required time for the cut branches to
grow back."2
Therefore, the support structure for the roof
is made of thick wood branches or trunks,
(often sycamore or other local woods) usually
5"-8" in diameter, laid upon the walls, at even Here is an analysis of the Greek words, using
intervals. Reeds, or small wood branches,
are placed crosswise on top of the beams.
Then a layer of mud mixed with lime, ash and
straw is set in place, packed down with a
roller and dried in the sun. A second layer of
earth (to absorb rain or moisture) is added;
and finally a third layer of the mud-mixture
finishes the roof off.
The resultant earth-based roof is between
5" and 16" in depth, built with a slope—to
prevent the rainwater from pooling. Making
such roofs is very hard work. Also, they need
regular maintenance: sometimes they need
to be weeded and repaired; and they need
to be completely rebuilt every 6-10 years!
Rebuilding such roofs is more grueling work!
The reeds and layers of earth have to be
demolished and the debris removed. Reeds
have to be harvested, dried and peeled,
before they can be used in construction.
Rotten beams have to be replaced: new
beams have to be sourced, bark removed
and the wood treated, before being installed.
Then the three layers have to be laid down,
one at a time, and given time to dry.
The story in the New Testament of the
paralytic whom Jesus healed at Capernaum,
gives us literary evidence as to the materials
and structure of the roof in question. We
have three parallel passages: Matthew 9:2-
8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26.
Mark 2:3-4 reads:
Then four men came to Him, carrying a
paralytic. And when they could not come
near Him because of the crowd, they
uncovered the roofA where He was. So
when they had broken throughB, they let
54
down the bed on which the paralytic was
lying.
Also, in Luke 5:19 it says, "…they went up
on the roof and let him down through the
tilesC with his stretcher, into the middle of
the crowd, in front of Jesus."
a lexicon of the New Testament:
Aapostegazo – to uncover, take off the roof
(literally: to unroof)
Bexorusso – Literally: to dig out; to dig
through
Ckeramos – clay, potter's earth; Literally:
clay or anything made of clay; keramos is
probably associated with kerannumi – to
mix, mingle (through the idea of mixing clay
and water).
Thus, the nuances of the Greek text support
the structure and materials of the roofs at
Nazareth Village. As the Gospels indicate,
the four men “unroofed” a section of roof near 1Gower, Ralph. New Manners and Customs of Bible
Jesus—they “dug up” (or “dug through”) the
clay-based roof material—and the paralytic
on his mat was lowered down between the
support-beams.
Interior of synagogue roof
This story is also very important to us
theologically. Remember how the story
continues? "When Jesus saw their faith,
He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are
forgiven you.” The scribes and Pharisees
present, "reasoned in their hearts, “Why
does this Man speak blasphemies like this?
Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark
2:5-7) They were right, only God can forgive
sins. Then Mark tells us that Jesus perceived
what they were thinking within themselves!
Finally, to prove to them that he has authority
to forgive sins on earth, he instantly heals
the man who was a paralytic! In other words,
Jesus was not just a man, but he was also
God in the flesh.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among
us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of
the only begotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth.” (John 1:14)
Times. Chicago: Moody Press, 1987. Quoted in:
Pfann, Stephen J., et al. The House: Its Structure
as a Living Space. The University of the Holy Land,
Center for the Study of Early Christianity, 61.
2Based on Mishna Baba Metzia 9.9.
Quoted in: Ibid., 62.