In biblical times, the concept of a "bed" was quite different from the modern understanding. Beds in the ancient Near East, including those mentioned in the Bible, were typically simple and functional, often consisting of a mat or a thin mattress placed on the floor. These could be easily rolled up and moved, reflecting the nomadic lifestyle of many biblical figures.

Materials and Construction:
Beds were often made from woven reeds, straw, or simple fabrics. Wealthier individuals might have had beds with wooden frames, sometimes adorned with carvings or inlays. In some cases, beds were elevated from the ground, providing a measure of comfort and protection from pests. The prophet Amos speaks against the luxury of the wealthy, mentioning "beds of ivory" (Amos 6:4), indicating that some beds were indeed elaborate and costly.

Cultural and Religious Significance:
Beds were not only places for rest but also held cultural and religious significance. In the Old Testament, the bed is sometimes associated with death and mourning. For instance, Jacob, when blessing his sons, is described as gathering his feet into the bed and breathing his last (Genesis 49:33). This imagery underscores the bed as a place of final rest.

In the New Testament, Jesus' miracles often involved beds, highlighting His authority over sickness and sin. In Mark 2:11-12 , Jesus tells a paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home." The man’s immediate healing and ability to carry his bed demonstrate Christ's power and compassion.

Symbolism and Metaphor:
Beds also serve as metaphors in Scripture. In Psalm 63:6 , David reflects, "When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night." Here, the bed symbolizes a place of meditation and communion with God. Conversely, beds can symbolize idleness or sin, as in Proverbs 26:14 : "As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed."

Practical Uses:
In addition to sleeping, beds were used for reclining during meals, especially in the New Testament era. This practice is evident in the Last Supper, where Jesus and His disciples reclined at the table (John 13:23). The act of reclining on a bed or couch during meals was a sign of relaxation and fellowship.

Conclusion:
Beds in biblical times were simple yet significant, serving as places of rest, reflection, and even divine encounter. They reflect the cultural practices of the time and provide insight into the daily lives and spiritual experiences of biblical figures.Job 33:15
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumberings on the bed;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 11:7
And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

On Sleeping in Church
... on that day, and confine them to their beds. ... for that reason the young man Eutychus,
used to the ... all degrees and both sexes; for, since sleeping, talking, and ...
/.../swift/three sermons three prayers/on sleeping in church.htm

A Glance at the Disciples of Jesus on Holy Saturday.
... into small compartments like cells, which were used by the holy women for sleeping
in at ... they arose, clothed themselves, put up their beds, and reassembled ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter lviii a glance at.htm

On Sleep.
... argue great ostentation; and the ivory on beds, the body ... For there is no use of a
sleeping man, as ... on waking in the night, have always used ejaculations, even ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the instructor paedagogus/chap ix on sleep.htm

In the Children's Hospital
... Nay you remember our Emmie; you used to send her the flowers; ... Quietly sleeping"so
quiet, our doctor said 'Poor little dear,. ... such a lot of beds in the ward!'. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/ccccxxiii in the childrens hospital.htm

The Right to what I Consider a Normal Standard of Living
... matter whether we missionaries sleep on spring beds, or those ... us like things the
way we are used to having ... jungle, carrying her own water and sleeping on the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/williamson/have we no rights/chapter 2 the right to.htm

The Early Life of St. Joseph
... Their sleeping places were carpets, rolled up against the wall ... I often used to think
that this little figure was ... of the windows, rolled up the beds against the ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/v the early life of.htm

The Great Question and the Plain Answer
... and somehow, men will have to lie on the beds that they ... I not a right to appeal to
the half-sleeping and half ... There was an old Rabbi who used to preach to his ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the great question and the.htm

Diamond Woke Very Early in the Morning, and Thought what a Curious ...
... visited him twice during the night, and found him sleeping quietly. ... to the horse,
for she had not been used to horses ... a flower was to be seen in the beds on the ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 3 diamond woke very.htm

A Present Religion
... heartily say," we can praise him on our beds; we can ... much despised, but a very godly
man, used to say ... thunders in this book; though they are sleeping now, they ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/a present religion.htm

Preparing to Depart
... wish to fall asleep when your last sleeping hour must ... a beautiful preparation for
your going to your beds. ... Imitate Luther's little bird, that used to sit on ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 54 1908/preparing to depart.htm

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