House

The roofs of the dwelling-houses were flat, and are often alluded to in Scripture (2 Samuel 11:2; Isaiah 22:1; Matthew 24:17 ). Sometimes tents or booths were erected on them (2 Samuel 16:22 ). They were protected by parapets or low walls (Deuteronomy 22:8 ). On the house-tops grass sometimes grew (Proverbs 19:13; 27:15; Psalm 129:6,7 ). They were used, not only as places of recreation in the evening, but also sometimes as sleeping-places at night (1 Samuel 9:25,26; 2 Samuel 11:2; 16:22; Daniel 4:29; Job 27:18; Proverbs 21:9 ), and as places of devotion (Jeremiah 32:29; 19:13 ).