Ship(boat)
Summary
Watercraft used for transportation, commerce, and fishing throughout biblical history, with detailed information preserved in the account of Paul's voyage to Rome.
☩Ancient Israelite Navigation
The Jews were not primarily a seafaring people, though their position placed them near major maritime routes. Phoenicia, with its ports at Tyre and Sidon, led ancient navigation. Palestine itself had harbors at Joppa and Acco. Solomon built a navy at Ezion-geber on the Red Sea, but required Phoenician sailors 'that had knowledge of the sea' from King Hiram. Jehoshaphat later attempted unsuccessfully to revive this naval enterprise.
☩Construction and Materials
Ancient ships were built from various woods: gopher wood for Noah's ark, fir wood and cedar from Lebanon for Phoenician vessels. Some Egyptian boats were made of bulrushes. Ships were sealed with pitch for waterproofing. They featured masts (often of cedar), sails (sometimes elaborately embroidered), oars, rudders, anchors, helms, and lifeboats.
☩Paul's Voyage
Luke's account of Paul's voyage to Rome provides the most detailed ancient description of merchant ships. Paul traveled in three vessels: a coasting vessel from Caesarea to Myra, a large Alexandrian grain ship that was wrecked at Malta (carrying 276 persons plus cargo), and another Alexandrian ship from Malta to Puteoli. These grain ships ranged from 500 to 1,000 tons.
☩Ship Components
Ancient vessels had two paddle-rudders, one on each quarter, rather than a single stern rudder. They carried multiple anchors—Paul's ship had four—and used 'undergirders' (cables passed around the hull) to prevent the planks from separating in storms. The mainsail was a large square sail on a single mast; a smaller foresail was used in storms. Ships bore painted or sculptured signs on the bow, such as the 'Castor and Pollux' on Paul's final vessel.
Related Verses117 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ship," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Ship," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Ship," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).