Difference between revisions of "Sleep"

<p> SLEEPING, SLUMBERING, is taken either for the sleep or repose of the body; or for the sleep of the soul, which is supineness, indolence, stupidity; or for the sleep of death, "You shall sleep with your fathers;" you shall die, as they are dead. &nbsp;Jeremiah 51:39 , threatens Babylon, in the name of the Lord, with a perpetual sleep, out of which they shall not awake. &nbsp;Daniel 12:2 , speaks of those that sleep in the dust of the grave. "Lazarus our friend sleepeth; let us go and awake him," &nbsp;John 11:11; he is dead, let us go and raise him up. "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light," &nbsp;Ephesians 5:14 . Here St. Paul speaks to those that were dead in sin and infidelity. St. Peter says of the wicked, "Their damnation slumbereth not," &nbsp;2 Peter 2:3 . God is not asleep, he will not forget to punish them in his own due time. &nbsp;Isaiah 65:4 , speaks of a superstitious practice among the Pagans, who went to sleep in the temples of their idols, to obtain prophetic dreams: "They remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments." The word, which we translate "monuments," signifies places "kept" or "observed." Some interpret it of idol temples, some of caves and dens, in which the Heathens used to worship their idols; and some of tombs or monuments for dead persons. Thus also the superstitions and idolatrous Jews, in contempt of the prophets, and of the temple of the Lord, went into the tombs and temples of idols to sleep there, and to have dreams that might discover future events to them. The [[Pagans]] for this purpose used to lie upon the skins of the sacrificed victims. </p>

<p> (properly יָשֵׁ, καθεύδω ) is taken in [[Scripture]] either (1) for the sleep or repose of the body (&nbsp;Jonah 1:5-6; &nbsp;Psalms 4:8) or (2) the sleep of the soul, i.e. supineness, indolence, or stupid inactivity of the wicked (&nbsp;Romans 13:11-12; &nbsp;Ephesians 5:14; &nbsp;1 Corinthians 15:34), whose "damnation slumbereth not" (&nbsp;2 Peter 2:3); or (3) for the sleep of death (&nbsp;Jeremiah 51:39; &nbsp;Daniel 12:2; &nbsp;John 11:11; &nbsp;1 Corinthians 15:51; &nbsp;1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). (See Death). The early Christians looked upon the death of the body as a sleep from which they should awake to inherit glory everlasting. In the Greek word ''Cemetery,'' signifying ''A [[Sleeping]] Place,'' applied by them to the tomb, there is a manifest sense of hope and immortality, the result of Christianity. In the catacombs of Rome, where.multitudes of the early Christians rest in hope, among the inscriptions may be read, in a Latin dress, "Victorina Sleeps;" "Zoticus laid here to Sleep;" "The Sleeping place of Elpis;" "Gemella sleeps in Peace." Emblems of their sure and certain hope of a resurrection abound; such as a vessel supporting a burning flame, and the palm branch and wreath; signifying victory over death. (See [[Inscriptions]]). </p> <p> The manner of sleeping in Eastern climates is very different from that in colder regions. The present usages appear to be the same as those of the ancient Jews. [[Beds]] of feathers are altogether unknown, and the Orientals generally lie exceedingly hard. Poor people who have no certain home, or when on a journey, or employed at a distance from their dwellings, sleep on mats, or wrapped in their outer garment, which, from its importance in this respect was forbidden to be retained in pledge over night (D'Arvieux, 3, 257; &nbsp;Genesis 9:21; &nbsp;Genesis 9:23; &nbsp;Exodus 22:26-27; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 24:12-13). Under peculiar circumstances a stone covered with some, folded cloth or piece of dress is often used for a pillow (&nbsp;Genesis 28:11). The wealthy classes sleep on mattresses stuffed with wool or cotton, which are often no other than a quilt thickly padded, and are used either singly or one or more placed upon each other. A similar quilt of finer materials forms the coverlet in winter, and in summer a thin blanket suffices; but sometimes the convenient outer garment is used for the latter purpose, and was so among the Jews, as we learn from &nbsp;1 Samuel 19:13, where [[Michal]] covers with a cloak or mantle (corresponding to the modern [[Abba]] or ''Hyk'' ) the im, age which was to represent her husband sleeping. (See [[Bolster]]). </p> <p> The difference of use here is, that the poor ''Wrap Themselves Up'' in it, and it forms their whole bed; whereas the rich employ it as ''A Covering'' only. A pillow is placed upon the mattress, and over both, in good houses, is laid a sheet. The bolsters are more valuable than the mattresses, both in respect of their. coverings, and material. They are, usually stuffed with cotton or other soft substance (&nbsp;Ezekiel 13:18; &nbsp;Ezekiel 13:20); but instead of these, skins of goats or sheep appear to have been formerly used by the poorer classes and in the hardier ages. These skins were probably sewed up in the natural shape, like water skins, and stuffed with chaff or wool (&nbsp;1 Samuel 19:13). (See [[Pillow]]). </p> <p> 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. (See [[Couch]]). As the floors of the better sort of Eastern houses were of tile or plaster and were covered with mats or carpets, and as shoes were not worn on them, and the feet were washed, and no filthy habits of modern times prevailed, their floors seldom required sweeping or scrubbing; so that frequently the thick, coarse mattresses were thrown down at night to sleep upon (Hackett, Illust. of Script. p. 104). (See [[Bedchamber]]). The poorer people used skins for the same purpose, and frequently they had but a simple mattress, or a cloak, or a blanket, which probably also answered to wrap themselves in by day (&nbsp;Exodus 22:26-27; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 24:12-13). Hence it was easy for the persons whom Jesus healed "to take up their beds and walk" (&nbsp;Matthew 9:6; &nbsp;Mark 2:9; &nbsp;John 5:8). (See [[Bedstead]]). </p> <p> To be tormented in bed, where, men seek rest, is a symbol of great tribulation and anguish of body and mind (&nbsp;Job 33:19; &nbsp;Psalms 41:3; &nbsp;Isaiah 28:20). (See [[Bed]]). </p>