Dairy Delicacies —

While there has been some question surrounding the accuracy of the KJV’s translation of this Hebrew word as “butter”, we do know that butter was known about in ancient Israel at least. As it’s been pointed out, “Since some adjacent countries knew and used butter (e.g., Hittites), and with their sheep, goats and cows were butter makers, it seems probable that the Hebrews also had it.”[2] As a matter of fact, “The mere action of transporting milk from place to place would produce churned butter, and the churn-type vessels known from archeology would be ideal for the purpose.”[3] It also seems that this Hebrew word can refer to a range of different dairy products, including butter. As one scholar explains, “Dairy products were an important element of the diet of the ancient world. Due to the lack of refrigeration, the milk from cows, water buffalo, sheep, or goats could not all be consumed before going sour.”[4] So to prolong the life of this vital resource the milk was put it into goatskins, buffalo skins, or clay vessels and curdled by agitating it in various ways. “The resulting product would range from cream to butter to cheese depending on the exact process followed. These products could be kept for periods ranging from a week to several months.”[5] The nineteenth century reverend James Freeman, in his great work Bible Manners and Customs, explained well the specific process that was involved: “Sometimes the skin containing the milk is shaken to and fro, or beaten with sticks. Sometimes it is placed on the ground and trodden upon…Again, it is pressed or squeezed with the hands, so that the contents become agitated and greatly coagulate.”[6] The Bible actually seems to allude to this last method in Proverbs 30:33 where it says, “For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.”