The Hebrews usually secured their doors by bars of wood or iron ( Isaiah 45:2 ; 1 Kings 4:3 ). These were the locks originally used, and were opened and shut by large keys applied through an opening in the outside ( Judges 3:24 ). (See KEY .)
Lock of hair ( Judges 16:13 Judges 16:19 ; Ezekiel 8:3 ; Numbers 6:5 , etc.).
Where European locks have not been introduced, the locks of eastern houses are usually of wood, and consist of a partly hollow bolt from fourteen inches to two feet long for external doors or gates, or from seven to nine inches for interior doors. The bold passes through a groove in a piece attached to the door into a socket in the door-post.