Solarium

Tectum, Solarium. Josh. ii. 6. 1 Sam. ix. 25. Deut. xxii. 8. 2 Kings i. 2, 3.SOLARIUM, a Roof. By the Word Solarium, St. Jerom commonly translates the Terrass or Plat-form which serv’d for the Roof or Covering of the House. Rabab lodg’d Joshua’s Spies upon the Plat-form of her House : In solarium domûs suæ. Samuel also put Saul to lodge there. These Plat-forms were all uncover’d, and were defended with a Wall round about, that was Breast-high, to prevent falling down into the Street. Moses had thus appointed it in his Law. Also in the Middle of this Plat-form there was generally an Opening which answer’d to the Hall that was below. ‘Twas through this that King Ahaziah fell down from his Terrass to the Dining-room, and was mortally wounded. Lastly ; They descended generally from these Plat-forms, by Stairs that were withLuke v. 19.out the House. Thus, in the Gospel, those that brought the Paralytick to our Saviour, not being able to bring him through the Door of the House, because of the Croud that was there, carry’d him upon the Solar or Roof, and having taken up some of the Covering, they let him down, with his Bed, and all, before Jesus Christ. In the same Sense we are to understand what our Mat. xxiv. 17. Luke xvii. 31.Saviour says, that those who are upon the House-top, should not come down to take any thing out of the House, but should make haste to save themselves. To save themselves, they must indeed come down; but he would have them come down by the Stairs that were without the House, and not enter into the House at all, to amuse themselves with taking Leave, or providing Cloaths or Provisions. See our Dissertation upon the Dwellings of the ancient Hebrews, before the Commentary upon Judges.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages