Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(bar). A bar of wood or metal for outer, and bolt for inner, doors (1 Kings 4:13; Judg. 3:24).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
These in the East were anciently very rude contrivances. They were made of wood with long wooden bolts into which were driven a few pins which dropped into holes and held the bolt secure. The key, also of wood with corresponding pins, would raise the pins of the bolt, and allow it to be shot back (Judg. 3:23-24; Neh. 3:3-15; Song of Sol. 5:5).
From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Judges 3:23. Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlor upon him, and locked them.
The early Oriental lock consisted merely of a wooden slide drawn into its place by a string, and fastened there by teeth or catches. The lock commonly used in Egypt and Palestine is a long hollow piece of wood fixed in the door and sliding back and forth. A hole is made for it in the door post, and when it is pushed into this hole small bolts of iron wire fall into holes which are made for them in the top of the lock. The lock is placed on the inside of the door, and a hole is made in the door near the lock, through which the hand can be passed, and the key inserted. This will explain Solomon’s Song 5:4, “My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door.” Some of these locks are very large and heavy.
Related Books and Articles:
Narrator:
Chris Genthree
Duration:
1min