Bolster
Bolster
( , meraashoth’, something at the head) occurs Gen 28:11; Gen 28:18, where it is rendered ” pillows;” 1Sa 19:13; 1Sa 19:16; 1Sa 26:7; 1Sa 26:11; 1Sa 26:16, a pillow. These were stuffed with wool or some soft substance (Eze 13:18; Eze 13:21); the poorer classes, instead of these, made use of skins. The
“pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster,” placed by Michal (1Sa 19:13), seems to convey the impression that in those remote times it was not usual for any but sick persons to use bolsters or pillows to support the head when in bed; and that, accordingly, Michal put one stuffed with goats’ hair under the head of the Teraphim, to confirm the notion she wished to convey that David lay there sick. She would then cover the head and bolster with a cloth, it being usual in the East for people to cover their heads while in bed. The Septuagint and Josephus make out that it was a goat’s liver, the use of which, as explained by the latter (Ant. 6:11,4), was, that the liver of a goat had the property of motion some time after being taken from the animal, and therefore gave a motion to the bed-clothes, which was necessary to convey the idea that a living person lay in the bed. The Targum says that it was a goat-skin bottle; if so, it was most likely inflated with air. It is probable, however, that the term rendered “bolster” is merely an adverbial phrase, and should be rendered literally in all cases, as it actually is in 1Sa 26:7-16. SEE BED.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Bolster (2)
( , meraashoth’, something at the head) occurs Gen 28:11; Gen 28:18, where it is rendered ” pillows;” 1Sa 19:13; 1Sa 19:16; 1Sa 26:7; 1Sa 26:11; 1Sa 26:16, a pillow. These were stuffed with wool or some soft substance (Eze 13:18; Eze 13:21); the poorer classes, instead of these, made use of skins. The
“pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster,” placed by Michal (1Sa 19:13), seems to convey the impression that in those remote times it was not usual for any but sick persons to use bolsters or pillows to support the head when in bed; and that, accordingly, Michal put one stuffed with goats’ hair under the head of the Teraphim, to confirm the notion she wished to convey that David lay there sick. She would then cover the head and bolster with a cloth, it being usual in the East for people to cover their heads while in bed. The Septuagint and Josephus make out that it was a goat’s liver, the use of which, as explained by the latter (Ant. 6:11,4), was, that the liver of a goat had the property of motion some time after being taken from the animal, and therefore gave a motion to the bed-clothes, which was necessary to convey the idea that a living person lay in the bed. The Targum says that it was a goat-skin bottle; if so, it was most likely inflated with air. It is probable, however, that the term rendered “bolster” is merely an adverbial phrase, and should be rendered literally in all cases, as it actually is in 1Sa 26:7-16. SEE BED.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Bolster
The Hebrew word _kebir_, rendered “pillow” in 1 Sam. 19:13, 16, but in Revised Version marg. “quilt” or “network,” probably means some counterpane or veil intended to protect the head of the sleeper. A different Hebrew word (meraashoth’) is used for “bolster” (1 Sam. 26:7, 11, 16). It is rightly rendered in Revised Version “at his head.” In Gen. 28:11, 18 the Authorized Version renders it “for his pillows,” and the Revised Version “under his head.” In Ezek. 13:18, 20 another Hebrew word (kesathoth) is used, properly denoting “cushions” or “pillows,” as so rendered both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Bolster
The pillow of goat’s hair which Michal put for a bolster (1Sa 19:13) was probably a curtain to protect the sleeper from mosquitoes, or a counterpane, with which sleepers in the East protect the head and face. Kebir means something woven, from kaabar “to weave.” The indefinite article implies it was one of the articles of regular use, as a counterpane or veil woven of goat’s hair to cover the head and face while sleeping.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Bolster
BOLSTER.This word, which appears six times in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] (1Sa 19:13; 1Sa 19:16; 1Sa 26:7; 1Sa 26:11-12; 1Sa 26:16) as the rendering of a Heb. word signifying the place at the head, head-place, has rightly disappeared from RV [Note: Revised Version.] , which gives head throughout.
A. R. S. Kennedy.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Bolster
bolster: Found in the King James Version only in 1Sa 19:13, 1Sa 19:16, Behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goat’s hair at the head thereof (the King James Version for his bolster), and 1Sa 26:7, 1Sa 26:11, 1Sa 26:12, 1Sa 26:16, Saul lay sleeping … with his spear stuck in the ground at his head. Bolster in these passages in the King James Version was used to translate a Hebrew word whose true significance is the place of the head, or the head-place. It will be noted that it has disappeared from the Revised Version (British and American), which rightly has throughout head, instead of bolster. See CUSHION.