[The Bible is an “Eastern” book. It was written many years ago in the “East” which today we refer to as “The Middle East.”  As such, there are many customs and idioms that are not familiar to the “Western” mind.]

In reading the Bible we have to watch that we do not read our modern western culture into the Scriptures.  We many times read words or phrases that instantly paint a picture in our minds of what we are used to seeing or hearing.  Not understanding the culture in which the Bible was written can cause us to scratch our heads and wonder what we just read.

Like most roofs in the United States, mine is pitched. I climb up on my roof about once or twice a year to remove the pine needles that fall from my pine tree.  Other than that, I hardly ever go up on my roof.

Flat Roofs

But in the lands and times of the Bible, the roofs were flat.  It was common for people to go up on the roof, or the housetop, for various reasons. It was generally a quiet place away from other people. It served as a great place to teach children in the evening, or to have a private conversation with someone.  It was also very common to go up on the housetop to pray.

Housetops would be accessible by a side ladder or stairs from the courtyard, as well as from the inside, where a hatch could open and close.  Such was the case when they took the man up on the housetop, and then lowered him into the house so he could get to Jesus.

Everyone On The Housetops?

There is even a record in Isaiah where there was something that was ailing the entire population.  So much so that it talks about “wholly going up on the housetops.”  This means that everyone went up on their housetops to pray.

That kind of situation would generally be a response to something affecting everyone, a sort of national emergency, like an approaching plague or even the expectation of the enemy.   Everyone would be on their housetop praying to God and asking for His deliverance from the impending calamity.

Remember When You Read

So, the next time you are reading the Bible and you see the word “housetop,” remember that their roofs were different than our modern pitched roofs. They were flat, and it was common for them to go up on the housetop.

I Samuel 9:25
And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

Isaiah 22:1
What ails you now, that you are wholly gone up to the housetops?

Acts 10:9
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

Mike Verdicchio

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There are a number of books that you can read to get insight on customs, manners, idioms and meanings from the Eastern culture in which the Bible was written.  The best I know of were written by by Bishop K. C. Pillai.  I have had the pleasure of listening to recorded teaching by him.

He wrote three books, and they are hard to find, and are usually over priced.  But, if you want to you can check this link to see what Amazon has to offer. Light Through an Eastern Window

Another great resource that I have used for years is a book called, “Manners and Customs of the Bible,” by James Freeman. Mine was printed in 1972 and I know they have newer additions. For the newest edition, just click the link and it will take you to Amazon.
The New Manners and Customs of the Bible (Pure Gold Classics)