How was 'news' spread in OT times?

[RonJohnSilver]

In my devotionals, I've been reading in the OT and one thing that has occurred to me is how 'news' spreads among the tribes. For example, I've just finished Judges and it says that "....word spread among the tribes to go to war against Benjamin..". Obviously, they had no means of mass communication so how did the message of going to war spread? Again, obviously, someone had to either ride or walk to a neighboring tribe until all were notified, but the inefficiency of that just seems incredible. How long does that take? At 20 miles a day, it would take weeks for news to spread throughout all 12 tribes, then the time to notify everyone in a particular tribe, many of whom are in the fields, then the time to gather, then to go to wherever the issue/war/battle is. By the time the tribes all arrive, the whole issue may be over. I just find it difficult to see how there can be any kind of unified action among the tribes when there is so much distance and time involved. Remember the old 'telephone' game we used to play? We couldn't manage a coherent message when passed among a room of 30 kids much less gathering thousand of men for war over hundreds of miles. I'm just amazed.

 

[Batman]

I agree. The Triune Godhead put communication in motion way, way back and then used the written and spoken languages in a manner that is slow (foot traffic) to move along the news, including the gospel. Today, the instantaneous information exchange from all over the planet is a blessing and a curse.

 

[Everlasting Life]

Hababakkuk 2:2 talks about runners with information inscribed on clay tablets. If there's one inscriber of many tablets, then the info would be consistent.

I wonder if once a runner hit one city, if the baton so to speak was passed to another fresh runner for the next city.

It may be that there was also 'billboards' along heavily traveled roads. Pilot had a sign posted above Jesus and the crosses were placed as a type of billboard warning to the Empire on heavely traveled roads.

 

[RonJohnSilver]

There are at least 2 Bethlehems, one is designated Bethlehem-of-Judah to differentiate it from the more well known one. I can see 50,000 troops showing up at one city only to find out that the battle is at the other city because the messenger left off the "of-Judah" part.

 

[mattfivefour]

Ron, here's an AI answer to your question:
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In ancient times, a typical person traveling on foot might cover 20 to 25 miles (32-40 km) in a day under normal circumstances. However, professional messengers, especially those running as part of an organized system with relay stations, could cover much greater distances, potentially up to 100 miles (160 km) or more in a single day in exceptional circumstances.