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Bible Encyclopedias
Bolster
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or ( מְרִאֲשׁוֹת, meraashoth', something at the head) occurs Genesis 28:11; Genesis 28:18, where it is rendered " pillows;" 1 Samuel 19:13; 1 Samuel 19:16; 1 Samuel 26:7; 1 Samuel 26:11; 1 Samuel 26:16, a pillow. These were stuffed with wool or some soft substance (Ezekiel 13:18; Ezekiel 13:21); the poorer classes, instead of these, made use of skins. The
"pillow of goats' hair for his bolster," placed by Michal (1 Samuel 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 1 Samuel 26:7-16. (See BED).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Bolster'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/b/bolster.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
