placed components that could be removed with relative ease. At the same time the material must

have been strong enough to hold people without falling in. To learn more about what they used

one would have to turn to archaeology, but that is beyond the scope of this study.

Heating and Air Conditioning

 There is no evidence in the Bible of any construction related heating and air conditioning

other than the structure itself. There is reference to a brazier, or hearth,

 Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with {a fire} burning in
 the brazier before him. [23] When Jehudi had read three or four columns, {the king} cut it
 with a scribe's knife and threw {it} into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll
 was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier (Jeremiah 36:22-23 NASB).

 In Biblical times the heating system was very simple, yet very necessary. What Jeremiah

was referring to here is a great pot, in which a fire was kept burning in the king's winter

apartment. Asians still use pots of this kind for warming, similar to the use of fireplaces. They

have the form of a large pitcher, and they are usually placed in a cavity in the middle of the

room. When the fire is out, a frame like table is put over the pot, covered with a carpet; and

those who wished to warm themselves, sat on the ground, and covered their feet, legs, and even

their belly, with the carpet.

 Air conditioning in its modern form did not exist in Biblical times. The means for

conditioning air inside a building was through the use of windows and shade. As mentioned in

the windows section of this chapter, there were lattices on windows that could possibly open and

close to control temperature, light, and water infiltration. On a hot day without wind to cool the

inside of the house, the roof was the only protection from the sun's heat. Shade was likely the

best form of air conditioning in Biblical times.