DWELLINGS, (Lev. 7:26.) The most common dwellings in the earlier ages of the world were tents. The simple habits of life which were then more prevalent, and the climate of the first-settled portions of the globe, made these the most convenient and comfortable dwellings; and tents of various sizes and shapes were 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.)

One mode of tent building is seen in the preceding cut. 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.) Sometimes tents were expensively adorned and furnished; and they are very common dwellings at this day among many nations. The form of modern tents in the East is said to resemble the hull of a ship turned upside down.

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. The skill required to build the ark, independently of inspired directions, must have been considerable. The attempt to build the tower of Babel would not have been made by those who had only a mere elementary knowledge of architectural principles.

That large and costly houses were often built in Judea we have scriptural evidence, (Jer. 22:14; Amos 3:15; Hag. 1: 4,) though doubtless those which were occupied by the mass of the people were rude and inconvenient when compared to the middling or even the very ordinary class of our houses.

The drawing at the left represents the ground plan of an Eastern house : A A A A is the house, 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 someone 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 slairs 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 the wealthier citizens spare no expense in making them places of delightful resort in the hot season. (For description and cut, see Hadassah, pp. 13, 16.) A colonnade a a a a (such as is often seen in modern houses) surrounds the court, and supports a gallery or piazza above. In this court, large companies assembled 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 was probably such a roof which was uncovered for the accommodation of the paralytic. (Mark 2:4.) And it is also alluded to in the beautiful figure of the psalmist. (Ps. 104:2.) As to the case of the paralytic, it may be proper to observe that our Saviour was probably in the court or area surrounded by a dense crowd, through which it was impossible to pass, with the diseased man.

They therefore ascended to the roof, and after removing the veil or covering which was stretched over the court, they let him down over or by the way of the roof into the midst, before Christ. 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 lattice-work in front, to prevent accidents.

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 King 16:18; 2 Kings 15: 25; Isa. 32:14.) The "house of the women" (Esth. 2:3) was probably peculiar to the royal residence, and might be like that referred to, 1 Kings 7:8-12. It is supposed, that in the houses of Judea, as in those of Aleppo at the present day, the ground floor was appropriated principally to domestic uses, such as storing provisions, oil, baggage, lodgings for servants, &c. &c.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.

To most of the Eastern houses a structure is attached called "Unit. It is sometimes built over the porch or gateway, and has two or three apartments : and, in other instances, it consists only of one or two rooms, and often rises one story above the main house. The oleah is used to entertain strangers; also, for wardrobes and magazines, or for places of retirement, repose and meditation. (Matthew 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 the terrace of the oleah afforded a much more retired place for devotional exercises than the roof of the main house, which was liable io be occupied at all times and for various purposes by the whole family. The little chamber for Elisha, (2 Kings 4:10,) the summer chamber of Eglon, from which Ehud escaped by a private stairway, (Judg. 3:20-23,) the chamber over the gate, (2 Sam. 18:33,) the upper chamber, (2 Kings 23:12,) the inner chamber, (1 Kings 20:30,—see Chamber,) may designate the oleah. (For description and illustrative cut, see Omar. pp. 17-19, and Hebrew Customs. pp. 33, 34.)

The upper room, (Acts 1:13,) called the upper chamber, (Acts 20:8,) is supposed by Jewett to have resembled the upper room in modern houses of the East . He minutely describes a house in which he resided. The first or ground floor was appropriated entirely to storing oil and other articles; the second floor was occupied by the family for common daily use, and the third floor or loft was fitted up for social meetings, &c. (Acts 1:13; 9: 37; 20:8.)

But the roof is one of the most important parts of an Eastern house. We ascend to it by a flight of steps, as already mentioned, which are entirely unconnected with the interior of the house. (Matthew 24:17.) It is made nearly flat, allowing only sufficient elevation to carry off the water, 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 or terrace. Sometimes clay or earth of some kind, sufficient for vegetation, was used, and hence the frequent allusion to grass upon the housetops, (2 Kings 19:26; Ps. 129:6;) and sometimes tiles or broad bricks were used. The roof was a place of repose (Neb, 47: 18) and of resort . (2 Sam. 11:2; Isa. 15:3; 22:1; Jer. 48:38; Luke 12:3.)

It Was also used for drying linen and flax. (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. (2 Kings 23: 12; Jer. 19:13; 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 street, but they were used only on some public day. (2 Kings 9:30. See Hebrew Customs, pp. 33-35, before mentioned. 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 probably unknown, though the word occurs, 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 fireplace 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, (Amos 5:11,) and marble of the richest vein and polish. (1 Chron. 29:2; Esth. 1:6.) Cedar was used for wainscots and ceilings, (Jer. 22:14 ; Hag. 1:4,) which were of carved panel-work, with mouldings of gold, silver or ivory. Perhaps the profusion of ivory in them may account for the expressions, 1 Kings 22:39; Ps. 45:8; Amos 3:15.

Many Eastern houses are built with mud walls, reeds and rushes, and sometimes only stakes plastered with clay. Hence they were very insecure, (Matthew 6:19, 20,) and afforded a place for serpents and vermin. (Amos 5:19.) Such a house, built even on a rock above the reach of the periodical torrents of rain, is strikingly emblematical of weakness, fragility and decay, (Job 4:19 ;) but when placed on the sand, and exposed on every side to the rain, and wind, and floods, the folly of the builder isalmost incredible. (Matt, 7:26, 27.)

In addition to what we have before said in treating of the oleah, it may be remarked that the winter and summer houses or parlours (Amos 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 their 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 vrhen it was finished and ready to be inhabited. The event was celebrated with joy, and the divine blessing and protection implored. (Deut. 20:5.)

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. (See Selumiel, pp. 41-44.)

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 (Judg. 16:27) was a court or area consecrated to the worship of Dagon; that this was surrounded by a range of galleries (Ezek. 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 were given. The removal of one or two contiguous pillars would involve the building, and all that were upon it, in one common destruction.

Dwellings, The materials used in buildings were commonly bricks, sometimes also stones (Lev. 14:40, 42), which were held together by cement (Jer. 43:9) or bitumen (Gen. 11:3). The exterior was usually whitewashed (Lev. 14:41; Ezek. 13:10; Matthew 23:27). The beams were of sycamore (Isa. 9:10), or olive-wood, or cedar (1 Kings 7:2; Isa. 9:10).

The form of Eastern dwellings differed in many respects from that of dwellings in Western lands. The larger houses were built in a quadrangle enclosing a court-yard (Luke 5:19; 2 Sam. 17:18; Neh. 8:16) surrounded by galleries, which formed the guest-chamber or reception-room for visitors. The flat roof, surrounded by a low parapet, was used for many domestic and social purposes. It was reached by steps from the court. In connection with it (2 Kings 23:12) was an upper room, used as a private chamber (2 Sam 18:33; Dan. 6:11), also as a bedroom (2 Kings 23:12), a sleeping apartment for guests (2 Kings 4:10), and as a sick-chamber (1 Kings 17:19). The doors, sometimes of stone, swung on morticed pivots, and were generally fastened by wooden bolts. The houses of the more wealthy had a doorkeeper or a female porter (John 18:16; Acts 12:13). The windows generally opened into the courtyard, and were closed by a lattice (Judg. 5:28). The interior rooms were set apart for the female portion of the household.

The furniture of the room (2 Kings 4:10) consisted of a couch furnished with pillows (Amos 6:4; Ezek. 13:20); and besides this, chairs, a table and lanterns or lamp-stands (2 Kings 4:10).