The roof of the house is, of course, flat. It is formed
by layers of branches, twigs, matting, and earth, laid over the rafters, and trodden down; after which it is covered with a compost that acquires considerable hardness when Aiy. Such roofs would not, hov/ever, endure the heavy and continuous rains of our climate ; and in those parts of Asia M-here the climate is more than usually moist, a stone roller is usually kept on ev- erj- roof, and after a shower a great part of the popula- tion is engaged in drawing these rollers over the roofs. It is now ^ery common, in countries where timber is scarce, to have domed roofs ; but in that case the flat roof, which is indispensable to Eastern habits, is obtain- ed by filling up the hollow intervals between the several domes, so as to form a flat surface at the top. These flat roofs are often alluded to in Scripture, and the al- lusions show that they were made to serve the same uses as at present. In fine weather the inhabitants re- sorted much to them to breathe the fresh air, to enjoy a fine prospect, or to witness any event that occurred in the neighborhood (2 Sam. xi, 2 ; Isa. xxii, 1 ; Slatt. xxiv, 17; Mark xiii, 15). The dry air of the summer atmosphere enabled them, without injury to health, to enjoy the bracing coolness of the niglit-air by sleeping on the house-tops; and in order to have the benefit of the air and prospect in the daytime, without inconven- ience from tiie sun, sheds, booths, and tents were some- times erected on the house-tops (2 Sam. xvi, 22). See HousE-Tor.
The roofs of the houses are well protected by Avails and parapets. Towards the street and neigliboring houses is a high v.all, and towards the interior court- yard usually a parapet or wooden rail. '■ Battlements" of this kind, for the prevention of accidents, arc strictly enjoined in the law (Dciit. xxii, 8); and the form of the battlements of Egyptian houses suggest some inter- esting analogies, if we consider ho^v recently the Isra- elites had quitted EgA-pt when that law Avas delivered. See Batti.eimknt.
Flat-rooieJ iiu
Ancient Battlements: 1, 2. Assyrian ; 3. Egyptian. In the East, Avherc the climate alloAVS the people to spend so much of their time out of doors, the articles of furniture and the domestic utensils have alAvaj's been fcAv and simple. Sec Bi:i); Lajip; Pottery; Seat; Table. The rooms, hoAvever, although comparatively vacant of movables, are far from having a naked or un- furnished appearance. This is OAving to the high degree of ornament given to the Avails and ceilings. The Avails are broken up into various recesses, and ^ tlie ceiling into compartments. The ceil- ing, if of Avood and flat, is of curious and coiiiiilirated joinery ; or, if vaulted, is w roll- lit into numerous coa'CS, and en- riilinl A-.ith fretAvork in stucco; and the Avails arc adorned Avith arabesques, mo- saics, mirror.^, painting, and gold, Avhich, as set off by the marble-like Avhitcncss of the stucco, has a truly brilliant and rich effect. There is much in this to remind one cf such descriptions of splen- did interiors as that in Isa. li\-, 11, 12. — Smith; Kitto ; Fairbairn. See Ceiling. IV. Me'aphori al'ij. — The word house lias some figurative applications in Scrip- 11 ire. HeaA-en is considered as the house of tiod (John xiv, 2): '-In my Father's house are many mansions." Here is an evident allusion to the Temple (q. a-.), Avith its many rooms, Avhich is emphat- ically styled in the Old Testament " the House of the Lord." The grave is the
I
-I
1
HOUSE OF BISHOPS
375 HOUSE-TOP
house appointed for all the living (Job xxx, 23 ; Isa, xiv, 18). House is taken for the body (2 Cor. v, 1) : "If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dis- solved ;" if our bodies were taken to pieces by death. The comparison of the body to a house is used by Mr. Ilarmer to explain the similes, Eccles. xii, and is illustrated by a passage in Plavitus (Mustdl. i, 2). The Church of God is his house (1 Tim. iii, 15) : "How thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, that is, the Church of the living God." In the same sense, Moses was faithful in all the house of God as a servant, but Clirist as a son over his own house ; whose house are we (Christians). But this sense may Include that of household, persons composing the attendants or retainers to a prince, etc. This intimate reference of house or dwelling to the adherents, intimates, or parti- sans of the householder, is probably the foundation of the simile used by the apostle Peter (1 Pet. ii, 5) : " Ye (Christians), as living stones, are built up into a spiritual house." Gen. xliii, 16 : " Joseph said to the ruler of his house ;" i. e. to the manager of his domestic concerns. Isa. xxxvi, 3 : " Eliakim, who was over the house, or household;" i. e.his steward. Gen. xxx, 30: "When shall I provide for mine own house also ?" i. e. get wealth to provide for my family (see 1 Tit. v, 8). Gen. vii, 1 : " Enter thou and all thy house (family) into the ark." Exod. i, 21: "And it came to pass, because the mid- wives feared (Jod, that he made them houses ;" i. e. he prospered their families. So also in 1 Sam. ii, 35 ; 2 Sam. vii, 27 ; 1 Kings xi, 38. Thus the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house (Gen. xii, 17). " What is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" (2 Sam. vii, 18). So Joseph (Luke i, 27; ii, 4) was of the house of David, but more especially he was of his royal lineage, or family ; and, as we conceive, in the direct line or eld- est branch of the family, so that he was next of kin to the tlirone, if the government had still continued in possession of the descendants of David (see also 1 Tim. V, 8). 2 Sam. vii, 11 : "Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee a house ;" i. e. he will give thee offspring, who may receive and may preserve the royal dignity. Psa. xlix, 12 : " Their in- _.^