(Heb. mittah), for rest at night ( Exodus 8:3 ; 1 Samuel 19:13 1 Samuel 19:15 1 Samuel 19:16 , etc.); during sickness ( Genesis 47:31 ; 48:2 ; 49:33 , etc.); as a sofa for rest ( 1 Samuel 28:23 ; Amos 3:12 ). Another Hebrew word (er'es) so rendered denotes a canopied bed, or a bed with curtains ( Deuteronomy 3:11 ; Psalms 132:3 ), for sickness ( Psalms 6:6 ; 41:3 ).
In the New Testament it denotes sometimes a litter with a coverlet ( Matthew 9:2 Matthew 9:6 ; Luke 5:18 ; Acts 5:15 ).
The Jewish bedstead was frequently merely the divan or platform along the sides of the house, sometimes a very slight portable frame, sometimes only a mat or one or more quilts. The only material for bed-clothes is mentioned in 1 Samuel 19:13 . Sleeping in the open air was not uncommon, the sleeper wrapping himself in his outer garment ( Exodus 22:26 Exodus 22:27 ; Deuteronomy 24:12 Deuteronomy 24:13 ).
The Jewish bed consisted of the mattress, a mere mat, or one or more quilts; the covering, a finer quilt, or sometimes the outer garment worn by day, ( 1 Samuel 19:13 ) which the law provided should not be kept in pledge after sunset, that the poor man might not lack his needful covering, ( 24:13 ) the pillow, ( 1 Samuel 19:13 ) probably formed of sheeps fleece or goats skin with a stuffing of cotton, etc.; the bedstead, a divan or bench along the side or end of the room, sufficing at a support for the bedding. Besides we have bedsteads made of ivory, wood, etc. referred to in ( 3:11 ; Amos 6:4 ) The ornamental portions were pillars and a canopy, Judith 13:9, ivory carvings, gold and silver, and probably mosaic work, purple and fine linen. ( Esther 1:6 ; Song of Solomon 3:9 Song of Solomon 3:10 ) The ordinary furniture of a bedchamber in private life is given in ( 2 Kings 4:10 )