Bed

The outer garment worn by day sufficed the poor for bedstead, bed beneath, and covering above, whence it was forbidden to keep it in pledge after sunset, lest the poor man should be without covering (Deu 24:13). The bolster was often of platted goat's hair (1Sa 19:13). A quilt to wrap one's self in is the bed meant in the miracle of Jesus when He said "Take up thy bed and walk" (Joh 5:8-11). The cushion or seat at the stern was our Lord's "pillow" on the lake of Galilee (Mar 4:38).

Stones served as Jacob's "pillows" (Hebrew) and afterwards as the consecrated pillar to commemorate the divine vision granted him (Gen 28:11). The divan or platform at the end or sides of a room often served as bedstead. In such a room the master of the house and his family lay, according to the parable (Luk 11:7), "My children are with me in bed." The little chamber, bed, stool, table, and candlestick of Elijah (2Ki 4:10) were and are the usual furniture of a sleeping room.

Some bed frame is implied in Est 1:6; 2Sa 3:31, "bier," margin bed. The giant Og had one of iron, a marvel in those days (one made of palm sticks is common in the present day), and required by his enormous weight and size (Deu 3:11).

Og in some expedition of his against Ammon may have left behind him his gigantic bed, to impress his enemy with his super-human greatness, and the Ammonites may have preserved it in Rabbath, their capital; or Israel may have sent it to Ammon as a pledge of their friendly intentions (Jehovah having charged them not to disturb Ammon), and also a visible proof of their power in having conquered so mighty a prince as Og.

Royal beds (Son 3:9-10 margin) had pillars of marble or silver, the bottom gold, the covering of purple and divers colors, hangings fastened to the pillarsupported canopy, the beds of gold upon a tesselated pavement (Est 1:6); compare Amo 6:4, "beds of ivory." Often used as couches in the day (Eze 23:41; Est 7:8). Watchers of vineyards had hammocks slung from trees (Isa 1:8; Isa 24:20). Hebrew melunah, "a lodge for the night."

Arab watchers sleep in them to be secure froth wild beasts; translate "the earth shall wave to and fro like a hammock," swung about by the wind. The "bedchamber" where Joash was hidden was a storeroom for beds, and so well fitted for concealment (2Ki 11:2; 2Ch 22:11), not the usual reclining chamber. The bedroom was usually in the most retired part of the house (1Ki 22:25; Exo 8:3; Ecc 10:20).

In Eze 13:18, "Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes" ("elbows") the allusion is to false prophetesses making their dupes rest on elbow cushions in fancied ecstasy, a symbol of the "peace" they falsely promised (Eze 13:16). Beds were placed at the end of the chamber, on an ascent approached by steps: hence "I will not go up into my bed" (Psa 132:3).