Olive Oil - Wine

The trees said, "Come! Reign over us!" The olive tree answered, "Shall I give up my rich oil by which God and men are honored, and go wave over trees?" The vine answered, "Shall I give up my wine that cheers God and men, and go wave over trees?"

Judges 9:8-13 (Abridged)

Reconstruction of an olive oil press in an urban setting at Tel Miqne-Ekron, seventh century B.C.E. A stack of baskets filled with olive pulp is being pressed by a stone-weighted beam. Cylindrical oil jars stand nearby. (Courtesy of Tel Miqne-Ekron Excavation/Publication Project; drawing by E. Cohen)

Olive trees and grapevines grew well in the hill country of Israel and Judah, and, as a result, the production of olive oil and wine was important to the economy. Surpluses of both products were exported to Egypt and elsewhere.

An oil press sits unused next to the hilltop threshing floor. In the fall harvested olives were brought from the terraced orchards and spread out on the flat circular platform to be crushed with the heavy stone roller. The oil ran through the surrounding channel into the adjacent rock-cut vat. This was the best-quality or virgin oil. Pulp from the initial crushing was placed in baskets that were then stacked on top of the pressing platform beneath the long timber beam. The stack of baskets was pressed down with the stone-weighted beam, and the oil flowed into the vat beneath.

Olive oil played a part in almost every aspect of daily life in ancient Israel. It served as a major source of dietary fat, as fuel for lamps and as a base for cosmetics, perfumes and ointments. Oil was also important in rituals. In the Jerusalem Temple it was used for libations, and at coronations it was poured over the heads of new kings as a symbol of divine election.

On the upper floor of the house is a cylindrical oil jar. Next to it is a spouted juglet, used to fill the adjacent saucer lamp.

Grapevines were sometimes trained to climb trees or trellises, but most grew in terraced vineyards. Stone watchtowers, like the one in the vineyard across the valley, were built to guard the crop.

The main harvest fell in late summer, a time of celebration when families set up temporary shelters (booths) in the vineyard and lived in them until the season's work was done. The grapes were trodden in vineyard winepresses cut from bedrock, and the juice was fermented into wine and stored in large jars like those in the back room of the house.