Gospel of Mark, chapter 9, “clothes . . far whiter than any earthly bleach“ — was bleach at all common in ancient Israel? Looks like it was!

[Multicolored Lemur]

Bible Gateway passage: Mark 9 - New Living Translation

Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!” The Transfiguration - Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’...

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2 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. 4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.

5 Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.

7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.

9 As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”

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I put in boldface the verse in question.

Maybe bleach was somewhat common in the big cities of Rome and Greece in 30 AD. But among rural fishermen in the outskirts of the Roman empire, fishermen who in many cases were flat-out poor?

“Anachronism” means not in the right time period. And maybe this only appears to be an anachronism because it’s described through the eyes of the fishermen.

Or, maybe this part was added in 200 AD, or even later?

I’m aware the conventional date for the Gospel of Mark is given as 70 AD, but I think that’s an estimated date from later fragmentary parts. A lot of emphasis is placed on the fact that Mark seems to be written at the same time as the destruction of a Jewish temple by Roman forces.

And it’s quite a bit later that you get a complete Gospel of Mark chapters 1 to 16.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

verse 10 — So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”

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Once again, the disciples are being presented as dumber than a box of rocks. I’m sorry, but they really are!

 

[AgnosticBoy]

The process of bleaching did exists in ancient times, but of course they didn't have the concentrated solution that we use today.

Here's from one source...

Bleach was discovered even before the third millennium BC. The people of that time had adequate knowledge about a solution that could be developed from wood ashes, which, after mixing with water, turned into lye (a substance that is obtained by leaching or removing soluble or other components by percolating a liquid). They knew that the resultant liquid would lighten colours.

Bleaching is a rather old process. Prehistoric human beings were also familiar with the effect of the sun on various substances. In fact, even in primitive times, we can find examples of items being exposed to sunlight for purposes of bleaching.

Some of these civilisations were based in Egypt, China, Asia and Europe. The oldest traces can be found in the Egyptian civilisation (around 5000BC). Thus, Egyptians were thought to be experts when it came to applying the whitening power of the sun to bleach objects. They used to discolour their linens by exposing their clothes to sunlight.

Source...https://owlcation.com/humanities/History-Of-Bleach

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Based on the research from my previous post, I think it's likely that bleaching was a widespread practice. Seemed like an easy process that anyone, and in any area, could do. This shows the disciples knew a few things

 

[Scooter]

Here’s a more accurate translation: Mar 9:3 - And his raiment became shining,exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

In the Greek, there’s no mention of bleach.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

"Fuller"? Never heard that term used in reference to clothes. Couldn't find any good definitions for it either, nothing having to do with bleaching at least.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Seemed like an easy process that anyone, and in any area, could do. This shows the disciples knew a few things

Point well made! And, thanks for the research.

PS I added “Looks like it was!” to the title.