OK, so I like humor. Here's the problem, and quite frankly I bet it's common among non-scholars.
'Exactly how did that happen?' I'm not talking about miracles, resurrections, etc. Daily stuff. And I'm not talking about suger-coated Bible background volumes.
I'm currently reading the new Charlesworth (ed.) volume on the Temple (which is of course not in Logos). And quite frankly it's amazing, especially if you also have 'the Quest' with the images (another volume not in Logos). But the line drawings in the Charlesworth volume are worth the price alone.
Anyway, as you read, literally 'doing' what is being described is impressive. Galileans likely took 6 days travel (that be 12+ meals, ?? bathroom breaks where?, mucho gallons of water (drinkable?), I assume tenting space, and very likely some animals (grass? Not consumed by previous travelers?). Then they climbed approximately a mile (a bit less) straight UP, very similar to climbing out of the Grand Canyon. In 100 degree heat. And both directions.
Then there's the 'Women's Court' which apparently the women couldn't actually stand in, but could throw coppers into the treasury basket (whew). What is interesting is how many stairs, baths, etc had to precede the toss. The widow must have been exhausted! That's certainly far more than at our church (which of course is TOO MANY).
Another one, not in these volumes, is why Paul went BEHIND the southern Turkey mountain range (1st trip). And how much did THAT cost. If I'd lived in Derbe, I'd be wondering for sure. Certainly I would have asked him.
These might be esoteric details, but actually similar details are covered routinely for non-Biblical histories. Where the Mormons camped, how many hours you could survive crossing the Muerte cut by Catholic missionaries in southern New Mexico, etc.
