Women had to maintain the cookfires throughout the day. This was especially true in winter, when the fire also served to keep the home warm and drive off the dampness of the rains.

Fuel used for the household fires was: sticks, thorns, stubble or animal dung, which was collected by the children.

The fire was frequently kept in a shallow pit in the floor, but ceramic fireboxes were also used. In the months when the weather was good the fire might be kept outside in the courtyard.

Another part of the woman's responsibility was to keep fire going in the oil lamps. They had to be refilled every few hours and the light from the lamps was never allowed to go out, even throughout the night.

One of the praises that the virtuous wife receives in Proverbs 31 was that "her lamp does not go out at night" v.18

Brightly beams our Father's mercy. From His lighthouse evermore.

But to us He gives the keeping Of the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning.

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman. You may rescue, you may save.



Is there some fainting, struggling seaman that YOU need to rescue for God. God is waiting for US to DO his work. We are his feet. We are HIS hands. We are HIS MOUTH. We must be used BY HIM to rescue and to save ... those who are weak, fainting and struggling. WE must send that light across the wave. This is the keeping that He has given US. We must care for that light and make sure it is doing what it needs to be doing. Spreading God's love.

But I am not so sure it is just the women who are to keep the lower lights a burning.

There was another important function of the everburning lamps in the home. It was to prevent burglaries by alerting a thief to the fact that the house was occupied.

This could very well be also taken figuratively- if we keep our spiritual lamps burning, full of the oil of the Holy Spirit, then Satan's workers will discern that Jesus is "at home" in the heart. The resident is on guard against his wiles, making his job so much harder. He may as well pass on by!