Museum of Biblical Antiquities: The Details

Exhibits

The Museum of Biblical Antiquities would have a wide range of exhibits designed to help visitors gain a greater appreciation for ancient history. These temporary and permanent exhibits would cover everything from ancient clothing, to the process of mummification, and would include Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, and Jewish history.

One of the permanent exhibits would be the Jewish worship exhibit, which would teach the history of Jewish sacrifice and temple worship in ancient times. The exhibit would include a full-scale replica of the interior of the Tabernacle of Moses, an interactive display of Solomon and Herod's Temple, and many recreated items, such as the clothing of the high priest, the instruments of sacrifice, and the arc of the covenant.

Other exhibits would cover ancient writing, Egyptian worship, life as a nomadic tribesman, such as Abraham, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, agriculture and farming in ancient times, an interactive model of first century Jerusalem, the history of the Temple Mount, and the printing of the Bible.

Biblical Feasts

One of the most popular activities at the Museum of Biblical Antiquities would be participating in a biblical feast. These special dinners would help teach visitors of the important cultural, historical and religious significance of first century dinning by transporting guests back 2000 years ago. Participants would gather in a recreated first century room, where they would sit at a traditional three-sided, triclinium table, filled with colorful fruits, vegetables, and traditional dishes. Under the light of oil lamps, guests would enjoy the meal while listening to a presentation about the importance of meals and feasts in the Bible, in particular that of the Last Supper.

The format of these feasts would change throughout the year, depending on the season, and would include different activities from the various Jewish Feasts, including a Passover Seder in spring, eating out under a canopy for the Feast of Tabernacles, and the lighting of the menorah during Hanukkah. These meals would be available to youth groups, scouts, schools and church groups by appointment.

Jewish Wedding

The Museum of Biblical Antiquities would include many extra activities for visitors to enjoy, including participating in a reenactment of an authentic Jewish wedding feast.

The evening would begin within the chambers of the stone-carved synagogue at the heart of the recreated village. The host would begin by describing the basics of Jewish wedding customs, including the betrothal, the dowry, and the marriage ceremony. Six volunteers would then be selected to act as the bride, groom and parents of the bride and groom. The women of the group would then escort the bride to her home where she would be dressed, and prepared for the wedding. The men of the group would follow the groom into his home where preparations for the evening feast would already be underway.

Under the light of torches and oil lamps, the groom would lead the men of the party to the home of the bride. The bride would then be escorted back to the groom’s home where the wedding fest would begin. A delicious authentic meal would be waiting were the participants would further learn about marriage and weddings in the scriptures including the parable of the ten virgins, the wedding at Cana, and the symbolism of Christ as the bridegroom.

Lectures and Camps

In addition to being able to visit the museum and recreated village, guests at the Museum of Biblical Antiquities would be able to attend lectures and camps throughout the year. Classes would cover everything from the miracles and parables of Jesus, Holy Week, including the trials, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, biblical burial practices, Jewish temple worship, and cooking, farming and daily life in ancient times. These classes would be able to take full advantage of the museum by using artifacts, replicas, maps and models as part of every lecture. Training seminars could also be used to help prepare tour groups prior to traveling to the Holy Land, helping to increase their overall experience. Youth could be immersed in history by participating in summer camps designed to teach history and life in ancient times.

Museum of Biblical Antiquities

Traveling to the Holy Land can be a life changing experience. Few things can compare with walking beneath the pillars of an ancient street, or on the stone-paved streets of the city of Jerusalem, or admiring the intricate mosaics of the palace of Caesarea. Yet few people have the chance to visit the Holy Land because of the high cost, physical demands, and time involved.

What if many of the sights, sounds, and experiences could be brought home? What if everyone could at least gain a glimpse of this wonderful and significant place? With the Museum of Biblical Antiquities, that lofty goal can be achieved. Visitors would not only learn more about the history of the Bible and its people, but also would be able to experience and feel what it might have been like to live over 2000 years ago, all in an interactive, state-of-the art museum.

The Museum of Biblical Antiquities would be divided into two main sections; the actual museum, and the recreated biblical village.

The main museum building would be a center for learning and would be designed for many different uses. The main floor would include a small theater, gift shop, and both permanent and changing exhibits. Exhibits would include everything from ancient daily life, warfare, to temple worship. Artifacts, replicas, models, and interactive displays would fill the exhibits. The second floor would contain classrooms, offices, additional exhibit space for an art gallery, and a kids' crafts room where children could make papyrus, create cuneiform tablets, and excavate in an archaeology dig site.

The recreated biblical village would be a place for hands-on, interactive learning, where visitors could roam through the streets of a first century village and haggle with a street vendor, watch a carpenter at work, observe a woman working on a loom, grind wheat, kneed and bake bread, weave a hand-woven basket, and learn how to make olive oil by crushing and pressing the freshly harvested olives.

At the heart of the village would be a first century synagogue built of limestone pillars, stucco covered stonewalls, and a wood-beam roof. The synagogue would include several rows of stone seats surrounding the main room, a storage room for Torah scrolls, and a mikvah for ritual cleansing.

The village would also include several homes and shops of different sizes and styles. The largest home, or landowner's home, would contain spacious living and sleeping quarters, and a banquet room used for feasts and weddings. The village square would be surrounded by the landowner's home, the synagogue, the olive oil press building, and the village market. Further from the village square would be located several peasant homes and shops, including the carpenter, potter, tanner, and metal working shops. Visitors could also watch as workers build new homes and shops the same way these buildings were built 2000 years ago.

Outside of the village would be a small farm area that would include a sheepfold, watchtower, barn, threshing floor, and fields of wheat and barley.

The Museum of Biblical Antiquities would be like no other museum in the world, and would be designed to help people truly experience and understand history and the scriptures as never before.

If you are interested in helping this incredible museum come to life, either through expertise or financial support, please contact me.