TENT DWELLINGS
The Children of Israel lived in tents during their forty years in the wilderness. Moses said of them, “The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp” (Num. 1:52). And Balaam “lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes” (Num. 24:2). . . continue reading link
HOUSES OF ONE ROOM
AFTER ISRAEL had been in the land of Canaan many years and had settled down from the nomadic life to the more stable agricultural pursuits, houses began to take the place of tents as places of abode. The average home of the common people was a one-room dwelling (W.M. Thomson, The Land and the Book, Vol. I, p. 562). Dr. Thomson thinks that because the poor widow who entertained Elijah had an upper room in her house, it indicates she was not the poorer class but was in straits only because of the terrible famine. 2 (cf. 1 Kings 17:8-19). . . continue reading link
HOUSES OF MORE THAN ONE ROOM
AMONG THE ARABS of Palestine villages and towns, houses of more than one room are owned by those who are more or less prosperous. The Arabic word meaning “house” also means “a room.” The same thing was true of the houses belonging to the ancient Hebrews. As a rule the houses of one room were in the villages, and those of more than one room were in the cities (George M. Mackie, Bible Manners and Customs, p. 90). . . continue reading link