091. Bottles

Bottles

(Mark 2:22) The bottle of the Bible ever has been and is the skin of the boat, sheep, calf or kid. The Arab has an interesting way of removing the skin from the carcass of the animal. The head and the lower joints of the legs are removed; then the slow process of stripping the carcass of its skin begins. No tool or knife is used, it is all done by the hand and fingers. Once they have the covering of the upper part of a front leg clear, they use it as a tube and blow with all their strength through it, which loosens here and there, the hide from the flesh. Natives never remove a skin in any other way. The goat skin is the most in demand; it serves for water carrying, the four legs being tightly tied up. This skin is also used for oil, and in Bible times for wine (2 Samuel 16:1; Jeremiah 13:12; 1 Samuel 1:24). The Bedouins use these skins also as churns. In that case the hairy side is turned in, and serves as a friction for the production of the butter, which usually carries away with it a quantity of hair; however they always melt the butter down and strain it.

It is clear that our Lord referred to skin bottles in Matthew 9:17. After a skin had been expanded by wine, which would gradually ferment, it would then be used for water or oil (also see Job 32:19). After the skin of the sheep is removed from the carcass, the wool is cut off; these skins are as a rule used for grain and flour. The skin of the kid is used as a scrip. It is necessary to smoke, salt, and sun dry these skins before they are fit for use. (1’sa. 119:83). When a skin is full it is of very great weight. The women prefer to carry a waterpot full on the head rather than a skin full on the back (Genesis 21:14). A calf’s skin is used to carry liquids on the back of a camel.