the days of his humiliation (John 1:14). He now dwells in the hearts of his
people (Ephesians 3:17-19). The Holy Spirit dwells in believers (1
Corinthians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:14). We are exhorted to “let the word of
God dwell in us richly” (Colossians 3:16; Psalm 119:11).
Dwell deep occurs only in Jeremiah 49:8, and refers to the custom of
seeking refuge from impending danger, in retiring to the recesses of rocks
and caverns, or to remote places in the desert.
- DWELLINGS The materials used in buildings were commonly bricks,
sometimes also stones (Leviticus 14:40, 42), which were held together by
cement (Jeremiah 43:9) or bitumen (Genesis 11:3). The exterior was
usually whitewashed (Leviticus 14:41; Ezekiel 13:10; Matthew 23:27).
The beams were of sycamore (Isaiah 9:10), or olive-wood, or cedar (1
Kings 7:2; Isaiah 9:10).
The form of Eastern dwellings differed in many respects from that of
dwellings in Western lands. The larger houses were built in a quadrangle
enclosing a court-yard (Luke 5:19; 2 Samuel 17:18; Nehemiah 8:16)
surrounded by galleries, which formed the guest-chamber or
reception-room for visitors. The flat roof, surrounded by a low parapet,
was used for many domestic and social purposes. It was reached by steps
from the court. In connection with it (2 Kings 23:12) was an upper room,
used as a private chamber (2 Sam 18:33; Daniel 6:11), also as a bedroom (2
Kings 23:12), a sleeping apartment for guests (2 Kings 4:10), and as a
sick-chamber (1 Kings 17:19). The doors, sometimes of stone, swung on
morticed pivots, and were generally fastened by wooden bolts. The houses
of the more wealthy had a doorkeeper or a female porter (John 18:16; Acts
12:13). The windows generally opened into the courtyard, and were closed
by a lattice (Judges 5:28). The interior rooms were set apart for the female
portion of the household.
The furniture of the room (2 Kings 4:10) consisted of a couch furnished
with pillows (Amos 6:4; Ezekiel 13:20); and besides this, chairs, a table
and lanterns or lamp-stands (2 Kings 4:10).
- DYE The art of dyeing is one of great antiquity, although no special
mention is made of it in the Old Testament. The Hebrews probably
learned it from the Egyptians (see Exodus 26:1; 28:5-8), who brought it to
great perfection. In New Testament times Thyatira was famed for its
dyers (Acts 16:14). (See COLOUR.)