Joseph the Builder

The Bible tells us Joseph, the father of Jesus was a carpenter (Mark 6:3). To most of us that means Joseph build things with wood, such as chairs, tables, homes, stables, and feeding troughs. This week as we read the book Advent Journeys we will come to know Joseph and Mary much better.

The Greek word for carpenter, τέκτων could also mean he was a craftsman or builder. After visiting Israel this definition seems much more reasonable, as wood is scarce in the land and most homes and buildings are made of stone. The term could also mean that Jesus’ father was a creator. We know that Jesus’ father in heaven was the real Creator (Genesis 1).

There has been a lot of discussion about what Joseph built. He and Mary both lived in the small Jewish town of Nazareth. Joseph could have repaired homes and objects in this small town. Certainly there were not a lot of new buildings or construction in Nazareth.

It is more probable that Joseph worked in the gentile city of Zippori, about three miles away (an easy 45 minute commute for someone used to walking). Zippori was an older town which was revitalized by Herod the Great as one of his building projects. Herod quartered an army at this location which was half way between the Mediterranean and the Sea of Galilee. The city was perched on top of a hill with excellent visibility and for that reason the Talmud tells us it was given it’s name which in Hebrew could mean a bird.

Joseph could have worked on minor projects, for there were homes and objects to create for the homes and businesses in the community. It is hard for me to think of the father of a great person like Jesus as the creator of menial things. I believe there are great objects which still exist today which were built by Joseph (which means “God adds”).

Joseph could have built the gigantic walls which were part of Zippori. Within this Roman city there are theaters, amphitheaters, hippodromes, palaces, government buildings and other huge projects. There were also fortified walls in order to provide protection for the troops. Some think Joseph was killed in a construction accident at an early age (before Mark 6:3 was written) because he does not appear during Jesus’ adult life. Accidental movement of massive rocks could certainly cause a person’s death.

Joseph could have built roads which connected Zippori with Nazareth and places beyond, for the Romans were great road builders. The Roman roads helped make the world a place where the Gospel could be easily spread by traveling apostles and missionaries. The roads were made of huge blocks which were trimmed to be thin and flat.

Zippori is known for it’s beautiful mosaics. Some people called this town the “Ornament of Galilee.” Mosaics are in many of the homes and are objects of great beauty. Mosaics are made of small square stones of different colors which create pictures. It could be that Joseph, and his son Jesus were creators of some of these Mosaics. One of the pictures is of such beauty it is called the Mona Lisa of Israel.

If you want to learn more about Israel or the mosaics of Zippori, or the travels of Joseph, I will be taking a group to Israel in June 2018. Watch for more details on my website (Israel Trip) www.KosherCopy.com