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What are Dwellings?
        DWELL'INGS
     The most common dwellings in the earlier ages of the world were tents, formed by setting poles in the ground and stretching over them a covering of cloth or skin, which was fastened to stakes by means of cords. Isa 54:2. Sometimes they were divided into apartments by means of curtains, and the ground was covered with mats or carpets. The door was formed of a fold of cloth, which was dropped or raised. The fire was kindled in an excavation in the middle of the tent-ground, and the cooking-utensils, which were very few and simple, were easily moved from place to place. Isa 38:12. When the habits of mankind changed and their pursuits fixed them to one spot, their dwellings were built with a view to permanency, and we may suppose that the science of building was well understood at a very early period. But while the Canaanites and Assyrians built cities, the Hebrews dwelt in tents; and it was not until they went down to Egypt, or more likely not until the conquest of the Promised Land, that they abandoned their simple habits; then they entered the houses the Canaanites left. It thus appears that the science of architecture first developed itself among the idolatrous peoples. That large and costly houses were often built in Judaea we have scriptural evidence, Jer 22:14; Am 3:15; Hag 1:4, though doubtless those which were occupied by the mass of the people were rude and inconvenient. Plan of an Eastern House. c. Entrance. A. Family-room. E. Walls, or galleries, between the open court and the rooms. G. Stairs to the upper stories and roof. A. Private staircase. The above cut represents the groundplan of an Eastern house of the better class. The house is built in the form of a cloister, surrounding the area or open court. The entrance is by a door, which was commonly locked, and attended by some one who acted as porter. Acts 12:13. This door opens into a porch, which is furnished with the conveniences of sitting, and through which we pass, both to the flight of stairs which leads up to the chambers and also to the open quadrangular court. We will first examine the court and its uses. It is called the middle of the house, or "midst," Luke 5:19, and is designed to admit light and air to the apartments around it. It is covered with a pavement more or less costly, which receives and sheds rain, and is often supplied with fountains or wells of water. 2 Sam 17:18. In Damascus every house has a court of this kind, and often several, and the wealthier citizens spare no expense in making them places of delightful resort in the hot season. A veranda or colonnade such as is often seen in modern houses surrounds the court and supports a gallery or piazza above. In this court large companies assemble on festive and other occasions, Esth 1:5; and it is then furnished with carpets, mats, and settees or sofas, and an awning or roof of some suitable material is stretched over the whole area. It is alluded to in the beautiful figure of the Psalmist. Ps 104:2. Around the court, over the doors and windows of the house, each apartment has a door opening into the court or gallery, and the communication with each is only on the outside, so that to go from room to room it is necessary to come out into the court or gallery. These galleries are guarded by a balustrade or latticework in front, to prevent accidents. "The stairs are frequently placed in the corner of the court, and sometimes at the entrance. In large houses there are often two or more sets of steps from the court, but there is seldom more than one from the gallery to the roof. They are usually of simple structure, and of stone or wood." The kind of stairs mentioned in 1 Kgs 6:8 was more complicated. On the side of the court which faces the entrance is the reception-room of the master of the house. It is generally fitted up handsomely, has a raised platform and a divan on three sides, which is a bed by night and a seat by day. The guests on entering take off their sandals before stepping upon the raised portion. The rooms assigned to the women are up stairs if the house has only one court, but if there are two they are around the inner one. These apartments, known as "the harem," are never entered by any man save the master. The rooms of the ground floor often include a whole side of the court, and are entered by spacious doors from the piazza. The rooms on the farther side of the court, both above and below, are assigned to the females of the family, and upon them is bestowed the greatest expense. Hence, as some suppose, these rooms are sometimes called "palaces," 1 Kgs 16:18; 2 Kgs 15:25; Isa 32:14. The "house of the women," Esth 2:3, was what is now so well known as the "harem," a part of the royal residence, and like that referred to in 1 Kgs 7:8-12. It is supposed that in the houses of Judaea, as in those of the East at the present day, the ground floor was appropriated principally to domestic uses, such as storing provisions, oil, baggage, lodgings for servants, etc., etc. Upper Room or Guest-Chamber. (From Schaff's "Popular Commentary.") If we ascend to the second story by the stairs before mentioned, we find the chambers are large and airy, and often finished and furnished, with much expense and elegance, with mats, curtains, and divans, Mark 14:15. This room or story is higher and larger than those below, projecting over the lower part of the building, so that the window of the apartment, if there is one, considerably overhangs the street. Secluded, spacious, and commodious as such a room must have been, Paul would be likely to preach his farewell sermon there. And in a large company it is common to have two circles or ranks, the outer circle being next to the wall and elevated on cushions, so as to be on a level with the lower part of the window-casement. In this situation we may suppose Eutychus fell asleep, and was thence precipitated to the street. Acts 20:9. A structure called an alliyeh is sometimes built over the porch or gateway. It usually consists only of one or two rooms, and rises one story above the main house. It is used to entertain strangers, also for wardrobes and magazines, or for places of retirement, repose, and meditation. Matt 6:6. There is an entrance to it from the street without going into the house, but there is also a communication with the gallery of the house when it is needed. It is observed that its terrace afforded a much more retired place for devotional exercises than the roof of the main house, which was liable to be occupied at all times and for various purposes by the whole family. The "little chamber" for Elisha, 2 Kgs 4:10, the "summer chamber" of Eglon, from which Ehud escaped by a private stairway, Jud 3:20-23, the "chamber over the gate," 2 Sam 18:33, the "upper chamber," 2 Kgs 23:12, the "inner chamber," 1 Kgs 20:30 (see Chamber), may designate this part of the house. But the roof is one of the most important parts of an Eastern house. We An Eastern Housetop. ascend to it by a flight of steps, as already mentioned, which are entirely unconnected with the interior of the house. Matt 24:17. It is made in most cases flat, but sometimes with domes over some of the rooms, and is surrounded by a parapet, battlement, or balustrade, lest one should heedlessly or unwittingly fall from it. This was a matter of divine command. Deut 22:8. A wall on the roof designates the limits of contiguous houses, but it is so low that a whole range of buildings, and even a street, may be passed over without coming down. The roof is covered with a kind of cement, which hardens by exposure to the weather, and forms a clean, smooth, and very agreeable floor. If the cement be not put on at the proper season, it will crack under the sun, and hence must be rolled; and rollers are found on many roofs. On ill-packed roofs grass is often seen, and hence the frequent allusion to "-grass upon the housetops." 2 Kgs 19:26; Ps 129:6. Sometimes tiles or broad bricks were used. The roof was a place of repose, Neh 8:16, and of resort. 2 Sam 11:2; Isa 15:3; Rev 22:1; Jer 48:38; Luke 12:3. It was also used for drying linen and flax, corn and figs. Josh 2:6. Sometimes a tent was spread to protect the sleeper from the cold and damp of the night. 2 Sam 16:22. It was a place of conference, 1 Sam 9:25, and worship, also of public wailing, Isa 15:3; Jer 19:13; Jer 48:38; 2 Kgs 23:12; Zeph 1:5; Acts 10:9. The windows of Eastern houses, as already intimated, open into the court. Hence the appearance of Eastern cities, in passing through the streets, is very gloomy and inhospitable. Sometimes latticed windows or balconies are open upon the streets, but they were used only on some public day. 2 Kgs 9:30. See Window. The doors of Eastern houses are not hung with hinges. The jamb, or inner side-piece of the door, projects, in the form of a circular shaft, at the top and bottom. The upper projection is received into a socket in the lintel or head-piece, and the lower projection falls into a socket in the threshold or sill. Chimneys were unknown, though the word occurs in Hos 13:3. What we call chimneys were not invented till the fourteenth century. The smoke of ancient houses escaped through apertures in the wall. The hearth, Jer 36:22, was a fire-place or portable furnace, such as is still used in Eastern countries. The materials for building were abundant. Stone and brick and the best species of timber, for the strong and heavy as well as the light and ornamental work, were easily obtained. Hewn stone was often used, Am 5:11, and marble of the richest vein and polish. 1 Chr 29:2; Esth 1:6. Cedar was used for wainscots and ceilings, Jer 22:14; Hag 1:4, which were of carved panelwork, with mouldings of gold, silver, or ivory. Perhaps the profusion of ivory in them may account for the expressions 1 Kgs 22:39Ps 45:8; Am 3:15. The houses of the class described are entirely different from those inhabited by the common people, which are mere hovels of only one room, built with mud walls, reeds, and rushes, and sometimes only stakes plastered with clay. Hence they were very insecure, Matt 6:19-20, and afforded place for serpents and vermin. Family and animals occupy the same room, although the former sometimes were raised over the latter by a platform. The windows were mere holes high in the wall, perhaps barred. Am 5:19. In addition to what we have before said in treating of the alliyeh, it may be remarked that the winter and summerhouses or parlours, Am 3:15, were constructed with particular reference to the season. The summer-houses were built partly under ground and paved with marble. The fountains which gush out in the courts, and the various contrivances to exclude heat and secure a current of fresh air, render them exceedingly refreshing amid the torrid heats of summer. The winter-houses might have had accommodations corresponding to the season. "We are told that it was customary among the Hebrews to dedicate the house when it was finished and ready to be inhabited. The event was celebrated with joy, and the divine blessing and protection implored. Deut 20:6. The doors of Eastern houses are made low, especially when they are in an exposed situation, and one must stoop, or even creep, to enter them. This is done to keep out wild beasts or enemies, or as some say, to prevent the wandering Arabs from riding into them. The Eastern mode of building is brought to our view in the case of the destruction of the temple of Dagon by Samson. It is probable that the place where Samson made sport for many thousand spectators, Jud 16:27, was a court or area consecrated to the worship of Dagon; that this was surrounded by a range of galleries, Eze 41:15-16, or cloisters, which were supported chiefly by one or two columns in front or at the centre. The palace of the dey of Algiers has such a structure. It is an advanced or projecting cloister over against the gate of the palace, Esth 5:1, where the officers of state assemble and transact public business, and where public entertainments are given. The removal of one or two contiguous pillars would involve the building and all that were upon it in one common destruction. Leprosy in the House was probably a nitrous efflorescence on the walls which was injurious to the health of the household, and therefore it was imperatively ordered to be removed. Lev 14:34-58. DYE'ING was a familiar art in Bible-times. The Phoenicians and Egyptians were skilful in it. From Ex 26:1, 2 Kgs 22:14; Gen 35:25 it is evident that at the Exodus the Israelites understood the art, and we are the better able to picture the process because we find so minute an account of it on the Egyptian monuments. There is, however, no precise mention of dyers in the O.T. In the N.T., Lydia is spoken of as "a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira." Acts 16:14. This city was famed for its dyers; inscriptions testify to the existence of a guild of them, and Lydia probably dealt in the cloth thus colored, or possibly in the dye itself, which is procured from a shell-fish. __________________________________________________________________ E.


Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'dwellings' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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