The House from Everyday Life In Bible Times

[Saintscruiser]

I realized that I could be in trouble by typing this text without permission from the author, Tim Dowley. So, I'm going to put it in my own words, if that's okay since getting arrested isn't in my daily planner.

The House

The poorest people lived in a one room house of 10 feet square. It was built out of mud bricks, stone, and rubble. Often insects and snakes lived within the walls. (Amos 5:19) The walls were quite thick so as to keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Window and Door

There was only one window in the house, usually high up the wall. Of course there was no glass over the window, which didn't quite protect them from the rain and other weather. However, an animal skin was hung over the window in winter. There was only one door, which was small that was locked nightly with a cross bar. There was an oil lamp placed on a shelf or upturned pot.

The Lower Areas

There were generally 2 levels to each house. The lower area was near the front door, with an earthen floor. The earth was stamped down to smooth it. Usually, the family kept their livestock in this area, donkey, sheep, dog at night. (What a mess that must have been.) The family sometimes lit a fire in this part of the room for cooking and heat. There was no chimney, so the soot covered the walls and made it difficult for the family to breathe without a great deal of coughing.

(I will post more later....it's getting painful.)

 

[Saintscruiser]

Part 2

The Upper Area

Inside there was a raised stone platform. The family would eat in this area, have conversations and sleep at night. The food, utensils, etc., were placed on shelves or in tiny cupboards in the wall.

The Roof

The house would have a flat roof made of wooden branches laid across thick wooden beams. After rain, the roof would have to be flattened down with some kind of roller, but was not leak proof. The the spring, seeds would sprout and make the roof look green.
The roof was reached by steps going up the outside of the wall of the house (2 Kings 19:26; Matthew 10:27; Acts 10:9). They would dry grain and fruit on the roof plus use it as a storage for their harvest. During the hot nights in the summer, the family would sleep on the roof. Men could climb up to the roof for privacy in their prayers. They also stored tools there. There was a law that stated the roof had to have like a small wall around the roof to prevent folks from falling off. (Deuteronomy 22:8) During the day, families would either be in the fields working, working in their garden, or odd jobs in the courtyard.

Furniture

The people had very little furniture. The chest was very important as they stored food or clothes in it. Poorer families would flip the chest and use it for a dining table. Some had simple wooden stools or chairs, but many sat on the floor. The poor would sleep on animal skins to sleep on while the richer ones had rough mattresses and even wooden beds. For pillows, they would stuff animal skins with wool or feathers. Every home had an oil lamp either made of clay or metals. The lamps burned olive oil, pitch or wax with wicks made of flax. They would burn throughout the night, every night which would show that there were people at home sleeping. It was unheard of to not have a lamp.

Can you imagine the people of Biblical times living in this day and age? WOW!

 

[chapeltown]

We are really so very spoiled. But yet.....even with all the niceties in this day and age....are we better off? In some ways, we are so much more comfortable....but in other ways, we are harried stressed individuals who feel the need to run and run and run. Lord knows that if this were then rather than now, I'd have been sleeping a couple of hours ago! Food for thought, anyway!

 

[Saintscruiser]

As I am.....no way could I live back then. I'm on too much needed medication....sleeping on the hard floor with fibro?????? No way. Now if could find Jesus and touch the hem of his garment with the lady who had the blood issue, then I'd have no complaints. And knowing me, I'd then be able to go wherever He went afterward. I'd even be quiet....just to sit at His feet......now that in itself is indeed a MIRACLE.

 

[blondeambition3]

We are really so very spoiled. But yet.....even with all the niceties in this day and age....are we better off? In some ways, we are so much more comfortable....but in other ways, we are harried stressed individuals who feel the need to run and run and run. Lord knows that if this were then rather than now, I'd have been sleeping a couple of hours ago! Food for thought, anyway!

Oh amen!!!!!

 

[blondeambition3]

As I am.....no way could I live back then. I'm on too much needed medication....sleeping on the hard floor with fibro?????? No way. Now if could find Jesus and touch the hem of his garment with the lady who had the blood issue, then I'd have no complaints. And knowing me, I'd then be able to go wherever He went afterward. I'd even be quiet....just to sit at His feet......now that in itself is indeed a MIRACLE.

This was priceless.....