Potter, Pottery

VIEW:14 DATA:01-04-2020
POTTER, POTTERY.—The artificer (yôtsçr) is first named in 2Sa_17:28. This implies the use of pottery at an earlier period. The ancient Egyptians were familiar with its manufacture (Wilk. Anc. Egyp. ii. 190 ff.), and Israel could not be entirely ignorant of it. During their nomad life, however, such brittle material would be little serviceable, and its use would be reduced to a minimum—skins, vessels of wood, metal, etc., being preferred. Skins for water, wine, etc., have been in use at all times, down to the present day (Gen_21:14, Jdg_4:19, 1Sa_16:20 etc.); but we also find the earthenware pitcher, or jar (kad), similarly employed (Gen_24:14, Jdg_7:18, 1Ki_17:12 [EV [Note: English Version.] ‘barrel’] etc.). Only after settlement in Palestine was the art developed to any extent by Israelites. In the later writings the potter is frequently referred to (Psa_2:9, Isa_29:16, Jer_18:2 etc.).
The potter first kneaded the clay with his feet (Isa_41:25), then shaped the vessel on the wheel (Jer_18:8). This consisted of two wooden disks attached to a perpendicular axle, the larger being below the work-table. This the potter turned with his foot. The vessel was then fired in an oven (Sir_38:29 ff.). In later times the art of glazing was also understood, oxide of lead (‘silver dross’), obtained in refining silver, being used for the purpose (Pro_26:23, Sir_38:30). In Jeremiah’s day the potters seem to have had a stance by the ‘gate of potsherds’ (Jer_18:1; Jer_19:1 f., RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘gate Harsith’), prohably in the neighbourhood of the clay pits, where they offered their wares for sale.
The thought of the potter moulding his clay at will is implicit in many passages where yâtsar, ‘to form,’ is the verb used (Gen_2:7 f., Psa_33:16; Psa_95:5 etc.), and is made explicit in such passages as Isa_29:16; Isa_45:9, Rom_9:21 etc.
The reading el ha’ôtsâr (Syr.), ‘into the treasury,’ is preferred in Zec_11:13 by many scholars and RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] to MT [Note: Massoretic Text.] el hayyôtsçr, ‘unto the potter.’ The passage is one of great difficulty.
What is known of the potter’s art in Palestine is due mainly to the work of the Palestine Exploration Fund, and especially to that carried out by Flinders Petrie, Bliss, and Macalister, at Tell el-Hesy—possibly the ancient Lachish—and elsewhere, from 1890 onwards. The result of their investigations, and discussions by other scholars, are found in the PEFSt [Note: Quarterly Statement of the same.] ; Petrie’s Tell el Hesy; Bliss’s Mound of Many Cities; Excavations in Palestine, by Bliss, Macalister, and Wünsch, etc.
Petrie distinguishes three periods of ancient pottery. 1. Amorite, pre-historic, where the shape and markings of the vessels seem to show that they were moulded on the old leathern vessels. 2. Phœnician, rough and porous in character, often with painted ornamentation, of which possibly metal vessels furnished the models. This may be dated from b.c. 1400 to 1000. 3. Jewish, in which Amorite and Phœnician styles are blended; this apparently belongs to the time of the later monarchy. On many jar handles are legends stamped in characters resembling those of the Siloam inscription. Along with the Jewish, Greek types of pottery are found, ‘chiefly ribbed bowls, and large amphoræ with loop handles. The red and black figured ware was also imported’ (Bliss, in Hastings’ DB [Note: Dictionary of the Bible.] iv. 27).
Where pottery of the Seleucid age, with Greek names stamped on the handles, or Roman pottery, ‘ribbed amphoræ, and tiles stamped with the stamp of the tenth legion,’ or Arab glazed ware, is found, sites may be dated with approximate accuracy. But for these and older times, data furnished by remains of pottery must be used with caution. Thus certain jars found at a great depth below the surface at Jerusalem, undoubtedly belonging to a comparatively early time, closely resemble some of those in use at the present day (Nowack, Heb. Arch. i. 265ff.).
W. Ewing.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909





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