Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894/Food

by Palestine Exploration Fund

 

XI.—Food.

Regulations as to food were founded on the Law, and all meat required to be lawfully killed. Many dishes are noticed in the Mishnah, some of which are still eaten in Palestine. The beans of the locust tree were steeped in wine (Shebiith, vii, 7), and mead and apple wine (Sabbath, XX, 2; Trumoth, xi, 2) are noticed, with an acid of winter grapes (Nedarim, vi, 8); dried figs in cakes and date jam are noticed (Trumoth, ii, 4, xi, 2) with palm honey (Nedarim, vi, 8), and other articles of food occur in the same passage last quoted. Salt fish (Sabbath, iii, 5) and a small fish in bottles from Spain are mentioned (Niddah, vi, 3; Macsherin, vi, 3). Greek hyssop was eaten as medicine (Sabbath, xiv, 3) with other herbs, including shepherd's purse. Honey and pepper occur in the same connection, and salt fish wrapped in paper are noticed (Yom Tob, iv, 5); finally, cheese is often noticed, as well as milk, and the tunny fish and herring, with assafœtida (Abodah Zara, ii, 5) and crushed beans (Taharoth, iii, 1). Olives were pickled in salt (Maaseroth, iv, 3), and corn was eaten in the fields (Maaseroth, iv, 5). Egyptian beer (Pesakhim, iii, 1), beer from Media,^[1] and various wines are noted with other eatables, including flesh, game, poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and fish, as will be further noted in speaking of the fauna and flora of the country.

1. In the same passage is noticed the Cuthac, כותך, of Babylon, a sauce of bread and milk (Pesakhim, iii, 1).