The most common bedstead in Egypt and Arabia is of this shape, framed rudely of palm sticks. It was used in ancient Egypt, and is figured in the mural paintings. In Palestine, Syria, and Persia, where the palm-tree is not com mon, and where timber is more plentiful, a bed frame of similar shape is made of boards. This kind of bedstead is also used upon the house-tops during the season in which people sleep there. It is more than likely that Og's bedstead was of this description (Dent. iii. x r). In the times in which he lived the palm-tree was more common in Palestine than at present, and the bedsteads in ordinary use were probably formed of palm-sticks. They would therefore be incapable of sustaining any undue weight without being disjointed and bent awry ; and this would dictate the necessity of making that destined to sustain the vast bulk of Og, rather of rods of iron than of the mid-ribs of the palm-fronds. These bedsteads are also of a length seldom more than a few inches beyond the average human stature (commonly 6 feet 3 inches) and hence the propriety with which the length of Og's bedstead is stated, to convey an idea of his stature—a fact which has perplexed those who supposed there was no other bedstead than the divan, seeing that the length of the divan has no determinate reference to the stature of the persons reposing on it.
It is not necessary to suppose that the bedsteads were all of this sort. There are traces of a kind of portable couch (i Sam. xix. 15), which appears to have served as a sofa for sitting on in the day time (t Sam. xxviii. 23 ; Ezek. xxiii. 41 ; Amos vi. 4) ; and there is now the less reason to doubt that the ancient Hebrews enjoyed this conve nience, as we find such couches in use among the neighbouring nations, and figured on their monuments. The subjoined example is from
A bed with a tester is mentioned in Judith xvi. 23, which, in connection with other indications, and the frequent mention of rich tapestries hung upon and about a bed for luxuriousness and or nament, proves that such beds (represented in the annexed cut) as are still used by royal and dis ancient Egypt. The elegance of shape in this and other specimens, shews the perfection to which the manufacture of these articles had been brought among that people. Persons are represented sitting on such sofas in the day-time ; and that they were used by single persons for sleeping on at night, is shewn by the wooden pillow placed thereon, as well as by the steps for ascent that occur beside some of the specimens (as at present) which stand higher than the others. Such couches were ca pable of receiving those ornaments of ivory which are mentioned in Amos vi. 4 ; which of itself shews that the Hebrews had something of the kind, forming an ornamental article of furniture.
The next cut shews another variety of couch bed, limn the sculptures discovered by Mr. Fel lows in Asia Minor.
tinguished personages were not unknown under the Hebrew monarchy (comp. Esth. i. 6 ; Prov. vii, 16, seq. ; Ezek. xxiii. 41).
It is evident that the ancient Jews, like the modern inhabitants of their land, seldom or never changed their dress on going to bed. Most people only divest themselves of their outer garment, and loosen the ligatures of the waist, excepting during the hottest part of the summer, when they sleep almost entirely unclad.—J. K.