Topical Bible: Tents were Pitched: On the Tops of Houses

Bible > Topical > Tents were Pitched

◄ Tents were Pitched: On the Tops of Houses ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In ancient Near Eastern culture, the flat roofs of houses served as versatile spaces for various activities, including the pitching of tents. This practice is mentioned in the Bible and reflects the architectural and social customs of the time.

Biblical Context

The Bible provides several instances where rooftops are used for purposes beyond mere shelter. In 2 Samuel 16:22, we find a notable example: "So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel." This event occurs during Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. The act of pitching a tent on the roof was a public demonstration of Absalom's claim to the throne and his defiance of David.

Cultural and Architectural Significance

The flat roofs of houses in biblical times were integral to daily life. Constructed with beams and covered with a mixture of clay and straw, these roofs were sturdy enough to support various activities. They provided additional living space, a place for drying produce, and a location for social gatherings. The practice of pitching tents on rooftops was not merely functional but also symbolic, as seen in Absalom's case.

Symbolism and Implications

Pitching a tent on a rooftop could carry significant symbolic weight. In Absalom's situation, it was an act of political and personal assertion. The public nature of the rooftop made it an ideal stage for such a statement, visible to the people of Jerusalem. This act fulfilled Nathan's prophecy to David, as recorded in 2 Samuel 12:11-12, where God declared that David's own household would rise against him, and his wives would be given to his neighbor in broad daylight.

Rooftops in Other Biblical Narratives

Rooftops appear in other biblical narratives, often as places of prayer, meditation, or divine encounter. In Acts 10:9, Peter goes up to the roof to pray, where he receives a vision from God. This setting underscores the rooftop's role as a place of solitude and spiritual reflection.

Conclusion

The practice of pitching tents on the tops of houses in biblical times reflects the multifaceted use of rooftops in ancient Israelite society. It highlights the intersection of daily life, cultural practices, and significant biblical events, offering insight into the social and spiritual dimensions of the biblical narrative.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Samuel 16:22
So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How Herod Sailed Out of Italy to Judea, and Fought with Antigonus ...
... to his assistance, those that were in garrison in the place were afraid, and ... for
the slaughter of his brother; and when he had pitched his tents, he made a ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 15 how herod sailed.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... takes her title from the mountain-tops which she ... the garrisons scattered over the
province were not sufficiently ... in numbers to risk a pitched battle: Khumban ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

The Holy War,
... Churches and hospitals, as well as other houses, were made a prey to the enraged
and greedy soldier, to the exceeding regret of the King.' Clarendon goes on to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy war.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Properly speaking, there were no pitched battles between them, but ... by the way of
them that dwelt in tents on the ... And would to God this people were under my hand ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... shall pray that this flood may abate in England; and could I but see the tops of
the mountains above it, I should think that these waters were abating. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as beforetime ... The walls were surmounted
by battlements, and flanked at ... by round or square towers, the tops of which ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... The author's qualifications for writing this commentary were exclusively limited
to his knowledge of holy writ. To book learning he makes no pretensions. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm