24 HEBREW LIFE AND CUSTOM
was also noted as a Babylonian peculiarity that they used
bitumen in lieu of clay as cement. Baked bricks were,
however, in use in Palestine, as pavement,1 and in the
latest period, for the unorthodox construction of altars.2
The bricks mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah2 may have
been either baked or unbaked.
A house, whether of unbaked bricks or of unhewn stone
cemented with clay, afforded little protection from night
attack by a burglar who could, in the Hebrew phrase
‘ dig through ’* the wall. Hence darkness became a natural
metaphor for a time of danger and light of security.5
Lime is mentioned as produced by burning,6 but there
is no reference to its use as mortar, and it seems rather to
have been used in whitewash or to form a thin coat of
plaster.’ Some sort of superficial plaster to hide bad build-
ing is mentioned by Ezekiel.8
Houses of hewn stone were regarded as a mark of
wealth and luxury.’ Such houses might have the inner
walls lined with wood,10 which might be painted ɪɪ or even
inlaid with ivory.12 Stone quoins in the superior sort of
buildings are referred to metaphorically as that which in-
sures stability. This metaphor was so common that the
word ‘ comer ’ could even be used alone to denote promin-
ent men.13
The poorer one-roomed house or cabin commonly
sheltered cattle as well as the family. The little ewe lamb of
t Exod. XXiv. ɪo (Heb.). * Isa. lxv. 3. 3 Isa. ix. 9.
, Exod. xxii. 2 ; Jer. ii. 34 ; Job xxiv. ι6 ; cf. Ezek. viii. 8, xii.
5, 7> 12.
3 Isa. lx. ɪ, 2,19; Zech. iv. 2, ɪo. The comparison of seven lamps to
Jehovah’s eyes is to be explained as follows : a house brilliantly lighted
up would be safe from attack ; a land to which Jehovah’s eyes are
directed likewise is safe.
6 Amos ii. ɪ ; Isa. xxxiii. I2. 7 Deut. xxvii. 2, 4.
8 Ezek. xiii. 10, 15. 9 Amos v. ɪɪ ; Isa. ix. 9.
” I Kings vii. 7 ff. ; Jer. xxii. 14 ; Hag. i. 4.
h Jer. xxii. 14. ” ɪ Kings xxii. 39.
4 Judges xx. 2 ; ɪ Sam. xiv. 38.
ROOMS AND ROOFS 25
Nathan’s parable, which drank out of the poor man’s cup
and lay in his bosom,1 was evidently housed with him
and his children. The witch of Endor had a fatted calf in
the house.2 A like state of affairs has lasted in Irish cabins
till recent times, and may still be seen in the East, where,
however, the part of the floor occupied by the human in-
mates is generally on a somewhat higher level.
The roof was ordinarily flat, constructed of beams з laid
in the walls. Brushwood was laid above these and covered
with earth, which was rolled or beaten hard. Such a roof,
though it might resist a shower, would leak in heavy rain,
and the annoyance caused by the continual dripping is
used as a graphic illustration of the misery of living with
a nagging wife.4 On such roofs arbours (Heb. sukkôth) of
interwoven boughs could be constructed,5 or more solid
summer houses.6 With or without such a shelter the roof
afforded an asylum to a harassed husband.’ A parapet to
the flat roof is made compulsory by the Deuteronomic
law,8 and a staircase leading from the roof to the ground
—the existence of which is presupposed in St. Matt, xxiv.
17—is perhaps indicated in the account of the proclama-
tion of Jehu as King.9 Since no outlook was afforded by
the windows, those who wanted fresh air10 or desired to see
what was going on outside the house naturally went on to
the roof.11
The house was commonly of one story,12 but the better
class of house might have an upper floor.13 An upper
room apparently not covering the whole roof seems to be
indicated in the account of the guest chamber constructed
for Elisha.14 Roofs were also used for other purposes ; in
the absence of a courtyard they could be utilized for various
* 2 Sam. xii. 2 f. * ɪ Sam. xxviii. 24.
3 In Gen. xix. 8 the word ‘ beam ’ is used in the sense of, roof’.
4 Prov. xix. 13, xxvii. 15. 5 Neh. viii. 16. 6 Judges iii. 20.
7 Prov. xxi. 9. 8 Deut. xxii. 8. ’ 2 Kings ix. ɪɜ.
,o 2 Sam. ». 2. ɪɪ Isa. xxii. ɪ. 11 Cant. ii. 9.
4 2 Kings i. 2, xxiii. 12. 4 2 Kings iv. ɪo.