Bed
The Jewish bed consisted of the mattress, a mere mat, or one or more quilts; the covering, a finer quilt, or sometimes the outer garment worn by day, (1 Samuel 19:13) which the law provided should not be kept in pledge after sunset, that the poor man might not lack his needful covering, (24:13) the pillow, (1 Samuel 19:13) probably formed of sheep’s fleece or goat’s skin with a stuffing of cotton, etc.
; the bedstead, a divan or bench along the side or end of the room, sufficing at a support for the bedding. Besides we have bedsteads made of ivory, wood, etc. referred to in (3:11; Amos 6:4) The ornamental portions were pillars and a canopy, Judith 13:9, ivory carvings, gold and silver, and probably mosaic work, purple and fine linen. (Esther 1:6; Song of Solomon 3:9,10) The ordinary furniture of a bedchamber in private life is given in (2 Kings 4:10)
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Bed
The bed of the Hebrews did not difler in essential respects from that of otlier Oriental peoples. It consisted of a mat and quUt to lie upon, and a covering or coverlet. ' For tlie bed is shorter than a man can stretch himself on it ; and tlie covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it' (Is 28-'°). The adjuncts were the pillow and the bedstead and its ornaments. Amongst all classes the custom was to sleep in the day-clothes without any material change of garments ; sheets were therefore superfluous. In Its simplest form the bed consisted only of the day- clothes and the outer garment or cloak. ' If tliou at all take thy neighbour's garment to pledge, thou shalt restore it to him by that the sun goeth down : for that is his only covering ; it is his garment for his skin : wherein shall he sleep?' (E.\ "22-''). The ordinary bedding used througliout the East at the present day is probably similar in character to that which has been in use for centuries, and con- sists of (1) a mat of rushes or straw ; (2) skins, or a cloak or a quilt stuti'cd with dry herbs, hair, or vegetabl…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on 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…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia