TENTS

MATERIAL

• Called beit sha`ar - house of hair
• Made of black goat's hair
• Porous material when dry - waterproof after 1 st rains shrink it together
• Same material as a sackcloth - made of prickly coarse goat's hair
• Goat clippings are saved and made into a strip to patch tents when needed

HOW USED

• Sides lifted in summer to provide sunshade - a large awning held up by poles
• Ends of the cloth drawn out by cords
• These cords were tied to pegs & driven into the ground
• Usually an oblong shape - divided into two to three parts

INTERIOR

• These parts divided by goat hair curtains
• Entrance leads to apartment of men & is reception apartment
• Next is apartment for women & children
• If 3 apartments this is for servants or cattle
• Necessities only - as they were subject to perpetual removals
• Rugs covered the ground
• Bedding was placed out at niht only
• Bedding consisted of mats & sleeping carpets
• Outer garments for use by day became their coverings for night

• Sacks of grain were piled around the middle tent posts
• Skin bags or bottles with water and other liquids hanging from poles

MISCELLANEOUS

• Sometimes a seperate tent for women
• Pitched in a large circle when families dwelt with each other
• Part of large flocks and all of small flocks stayed in the circle
• Sheik's tent was acknowledged by a long spear that stood in the ground next to it
• Sheik's tent was larger than anyone else's
• Abraham would have been considered to be a part of the wealthy Bedouin Arabs today
• Old pieces that have been replaced are used elsewhere on the tent as reinforcements or as a interior curtain
• Tents are passed from father to son
• Consider their true home in everyway
• Tent life was simple - consider to be a life of dignity

NECESSITIES

• hand-mill & mortar in which grain is pounded
• Leathern bucket to draw water from any well
• Earthen pitcher to carry water from well
• Some cooking utensils - pots, kettles, pans
• Serving dishes. mats, platters, large dishes, cups
• Primitive lamp burner for olive oil light at night
• Camel furniture, if family is wealthy
• Teraphim