Difference between revisions of "Furniture"

<p> is the rendering in the Auth. Vers. in one passage of כִּר '', Kar'' , a camel's litter or canopied saddle, in which females are accustomed to travel in the East, Genesis 32:34, elsewhere a lamb, etc.; also in a few passages of כְּלַי, a general term for ''Vessels,'' utensils, or implements of any sort. The manufacture of all kinds of furniture is represented on the [[Egyptian]] monuments with great minuteness. The recent excavations among the Assvrian mounds have also disclosed a high degree of refinement among the people of that age. See Wilkinson's ''Anc. Egypt,'' Rosellini's ''Illustra.'' , and Layard and Botta's works on ancient [[Nineveh]] and Babylon; also the various articles of household furniture in their alphabetical order. (See [[Carpenter]]). It appears that the furniture of Oriental dwellings, in the earliest ages, was generally very simple; that of the poorer classes consisted of but few articles, and those such only as were absolutely necessary. (See [[House]]). </p> <p> The interior of the more common and useful apartments was furnished with sets of large nails with square heads, like dice, and bent at them head, so as to make them cramp-irons: a specimen of these may be seen in the British Museum. In modern Palestine the plan is to fix nails or pins of wood in the walls, while they are still soft, in order to suspend such domestic articles as are required; since, consisting altogether of clay, they are too frail to admit of the operation of the hammer. To this custom there is an allusion in &nbsp;Ezra 9:8, and &nbsp;Isaiah 22:23. On these nails were hung their kitchen utensils or other articles. Instead of chairs, they sat on mats or skins; and the same articles on which they laid a mattress, served them instead of bedsteads, while their upper garment was used for a covering. (See Chair). Sovereigns had chairs of state, or thrones with footstools (&nbsp;Exodus 22:26-27; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 24:12). The opulent had (as those in the East still have) fine carpets, couches, or divans and sofas, on which they sat, lay, and slept (&nbsp;2 Samuel 17:28; &nbsp;2 Kings 4:10). They have also a great variety of pillows and bolsters, with which they support themselves when they wish to take their ease, and there is an allusion to these in &nbsp;Ezekiel 13:18. In later times these couches were splendid, and the frames in-laid with ivory (&nbsp;Amos 6:4), which is plentiful in the East; they were-also richly carved and perfumed (&nbsp;Proverbs 7:16-17). (See [[Bed]]). On these sofas, in the latter ages of the [[Jewish]] state, for before the time of Moses it appears to have been the custom to sit at table (&nbsp;Genesis 43:33), they universally reclined when taking their meals (&nbsp;Amos 6:4; &nbsp;Luke 7:36-38). (See [[Accubation]]). </p> <p> Anciently splendid hangings were used in the palaces of the Eastern monarchs, embroidered with needle-work, and ample draperies wane asspeadad over the openings in the sides of the apartments, for the twofold purpose of affording air, and of shielding them from the sun. Of this description were the costly hangings of the [[Persian]] sovereigns mentioned in &nbsp;Esther 1:6, which passage is confirmed by the statements of Quintius [[Curtius]] relating to their msuperb palace at Persepolis. (See [[Embroidery]]). In the more ancient periods other articles of necessary furniture were both few and simple. Among these were a hand-mill, a kneading-trough, and an oven. (See [[Bread]]). Besides kneadding-troughs and ovens they must have heed various kinds of earthen-ware vessels, especially pots to bold water for their several ablutions. In later times baskets formed an indispensable article of furniture to the Jews. (See [[Basket]]). Large sacks are still, as they anciently were (&nbsp;Genesis 44:1-3; &nbsp;John 9:11), employed for carrying provision and baggage of every description. The domestic utensils of the Orientals in the present day are nearly always of brass; those of the ancient [[Egyptians]] were chiefly of bronze or iron. Bowls, cups, and drinking-vessels of gold and silver were used in the courts of princes and great men (&nbsp;Genesis 44:2; &nbsp;Genesis 44:5; &nbsp;1 Kings 10:21). Some elegant specinens of these are given in the paintings of the tombs of Egypt. (See [[Bowl]]). Bottles were made of skins, which are chiefly of a red color (&nbsp;Exodus 25:5). (See [[Bottle]]). Apartments were lighted by means of lamps, which were fed with olive-oil, and were commonly placed upon elevated stands (&nbsp;Matthew 5:15). Those of the wise and foolish virgins (&nbsp;Matthew 25:1-10) were of a different sort; they were a kind of torch or flam-beau, made of iron or earthen-ware, wrapped about with old linen, moistened from time to time with oil, and were suitable for being carried out of doors. (See [[Lamp]]). </p>

<p> '''''fûr´ni''''' -'''''t̬ūr''''' ( כּר , <i> '''''kār''''' </i> , כּלים , <i> '''''kēlı̄m''''' </i> ; σκευή , <i> '''''skeuḗ''''' </i> ): In &nbsp;Genesis 31:34 <i> '''''kār''''' </i> is translated "furniture" in the King James Version, but "saddle" in the American Standard Revised Version. The latter is decidedly preferable. It was the "camel-basket," or the basket-saddle of the camel, which was a sort of palanquin bound upon the saddle. Upon this saddle-basket Rachel sat with the <i> '''''teraphim''''' </i> hidden beneath, and her wily father did not suspect the presence of his gods in such a place. In other places the word <i> '''''kēlı̄m''''' </i> is used, and is generally rendered "vessels," though sometimes "furniture." It may have many other renderings also (see <i> BDB </i> ). &nbsp;Exodus 31:7; &nbsp;Exodus 39:33 mention the furniture of the Tent, which is specified in other places. Moses is instructed (&nbsp; Exodus 25:9 ) to make a sanctuary or tabernacle and the furniture thereof according to the pattern showed him in the Mount. The furniture of the Court consisted of the brazen altar and laver (&nbsp;Exodus 40:29 , &nbsp;Exodus 40:30 ); that of the Holy Place, of the table of showbread, the golden lampstand and altar of incense (&nbsp;Exodus 39:36; &nbsp;Exodus 40:22-26; &nbsp;Hebrews 9:2 ); that of the Holy of Holies, of the ark and mercy-seat overshadowed by the cherubim. The tribe of [[Levi]] was set apart by [[Yahweh]] to "keep all the furniture of the tent of meeting" (&nbsp;Numbers 3:8 ). When David organized the tabernacle-worship in [[Jerusalem]] and assigned the [[Levites]] their separate duties, certain men "were appointed over the furniture, and over all the vessels of the sanctuary" (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 9:29 ). In &nbsp;Nahum 2:9 the singular form of the word <i> '''''kelı̄''''' </i> is used, and is rendered "furniture." The prophet refers to the abundant, costly, luxurious furniture and raiment, largely the results of their conquests and plunder in many countries. </p> <p> In &nbsp;Acts 27:19 the word <i> '''''skeuē''''' </i> is translated in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "tackling," with "furniture" in the Revised Version, margin. </p> <p> By way of information regarding the general furniture of the house little is said directly in the Scriptures. The chamber built for [[Elisha]] upon the wall contained a bed, a table, a seat, and lampstand. This was doubtless the furnishing of most bedrooms when it could be afforded. The prophet Amos had a supreme contempt for the luxurious furniture of the grandees of Samaria (&nbsp;Amos 3:12; &nbsp;Amos 6:4 ). For full particulars see House; [[Tabernacle]]; Temple . </p>