Who Was Killed By A Wet Blanket In The Bible?

The Bible contains many intriguing stories, including some involving unusual deaths. In this article, we’ll explore the question of whether anyone in the Bible was actually killed by a wet blanket.

If you’re short on time, the quick answer is: There are no clear examples in the Bible of someone being killed specifically by a wet blanket. However, there are a few instances of people perishing due to strange events involving blankets or bedding.

A Review of Biblical Passages Involving Blankets

The Death of Goliath

The Philistine giant Goliath is famously killed by the young David with a slingshot in 1 Samuel 17. After David strikes Goliath in the forehead with a stone from his sling, Goliath falls facedown on the ground. David then takes Goliath’s sword and cuts off his head.

What’s less well-known is what David does next – he takes Goliath’s armor, including his javelin, sword, and blanket (1 Samuel 17:54).

It’s often assumed Goliath had some kind of cape or cloak, but the Hebrew word used in Samuel is me’il, which refers specifically to a coat, robe, or blanket-like outer garment. So one of the spoils claimed by David after his defeat of Goliath was literally the blanket off the giant’s back!

Eglon and Ehud

In Judges 3, Israel is oppressed by the Moabite king Eglon. The Israelites cry out to God, who raises up the judge Ehud to deliver them. Ehud straps a double-edged sword to his right thigh under his clothes. He brings tribute to Eglon, who dismisses his attendants to speak privately with Ehud.

Ehud tells Eglon, “I have a message from God for you”, and when Eglon stands up, Ehud plunges his sword into Eglon’s belly (Judges 3:20-21).

The passage gruesomely relates that Ehud’s sword sank so deep, even the handle went in and Eglon’s fat closed over it. Ehud locks the doors and escapes while Eglon’s servants wait politely outside their king’s room, assuming he is relieving himself.

Finally the servants unlock the doors and find their king dead on the floor. The passage concludes, “As they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the stone images and escaped to Seirah” (Judges 3:26).

While no blankets are directly mentioned in this account, the reference to Eglon’s fat closing over the sword suggests a layer of clothing or covering of some kind. Eglon was a king, so it’s likely he had fine robes, blankets, or tapestries in his private chambers where he received Ehud and was assassinated.

Bathsheba and Uriah

2 Samuel 11 recounts the famous story of King David committing adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. When Bathsheba discovers she is pregnant, David first tries to get Uriah to sleep with his wife so the pregnancy will seem legitimate.

However, Uriah refuses out of loyalty to his fellow soldiers who are still in battle:

“Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!” (2 Samuel 11:11).

Frustrated, David resorts to subterfuge. He orders Uriah to the front lines of battle and then instructs Joab to essentially use Uriah as cannon fodder. The plan works, and Uriah is killed in battle.

Blankets are not mentioned directly, but Uriah’s loyalty to his fellow soldiers “staying in tents” while he had the comforts of home suggests blankets were among the amenities he did not feel right enjoying while his companions slept outside in the open.

The contrast highlights Uriah’s honorable character and David’s corrupt motives.

The Role of Blankets in Ancient Near East Culture

Keeping Warm in a Harsh Climate

The climate of the Ancient Near East was generally hot and dry, with cold winters. Keeping warm was important for survival. Blankets offered protection against the elements and were seen as necessities.

Wool was the main material used for blankets. It provided excellent insulation against both heat and cold. The quality of wool varied considerably, from the fine soft wool of lambs to the coarser hair of goats and camels.Rich people could afford fine wool blankets, while poorer people used cheaper and rougher blankets.

There is evidence that many households owned multiple blankets. Having several blankets allowed people to layer them for extra warmth. Thicker blankets were used during the winter months. Lighter sheets and blankets were used in the summer.The number and quality of blankets owned was an indicator of a family’s wealth.

Travelers would bring blankets with them on long journeys to stay warm overnight. Officials traveling on state business were issued blankets as part of their standard equipment.

Bedding Material and Sleeping Customs

For the peoples of the Ancient Near East, bedding consisted of blankets, wool mats or animal skins laid out on the floor. The average person slept on the roof or courtyard during hot periods and moved inside during the rainy season and winter.

Having adequate, comfortable bedding was important for getting a good night’s sleep. Multiple blankets would be layered and arranged into a makeshift mattress for sleeping. The finest blankets were placed on the top for maximum comfort.

The ancient texts also give us some insight into sleeping customs. Written records from Mesopotamia indicate that family members would often sleep together under blankets or skins for warmth. There is also evidence that blankets were used to cover the face or head while sleeping.

While blankets served a practical everyday purpose, they also held social importance. The rich would display their fine blankets as a sign of prestige. Blankets were gifted at weddings and used to cover the marriage bed.

High quality blankets were deemed appropriate gifts between nobles and kings during diplomacy.

Metaphorical Uses of Blankets in the Bible

Covering Sin

In the Bible, blankets are sometimes used metaphorically to represent covering up or hiding sin. For example, in Isaiah 28:20, the prophet warns that the “bed is too short to stretch out on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.”

This refers to how the people’s sin and disobedience prevents them from finding rest and comfort in the Lord. The blanket is a metaphor for their ineffective efforts to cover up their sin and guilt.

Similarly, Ezekiel 13 criticizes false prophets who sew together magic charms and veil themselves with blankets of false visions. The blanket here symbolizes how the false prophets try to cover up the truth and deceive God’s people.

Just as a blanket can conceal something, the metaphors speak to how sin and deception often go unchecked and unexposed. Blankets offer a cozy image, but in these contexts, remind us how dangerous and destructive hidden sin can become over time.

God’s Covering and Care

While blankets can represent concealment of sin, they more frequently symbolize God’s sheltering presence and care for His people. Psalm 105 praises God who watched over the patriarchs “like a shepherd guarding his flock, guiding them with his strong staff and caring for them with his tender hands.”

God guarded His chosen ones like a blanket covers and protects on a cold night.

Similarly, Isaiah 61 proclaims that God covers His people with “a robe of salvation” and “a cloak of righteousness” like a bridegroom adorns his bride with jewels. God envelops His people in salvation and righteousness like priceless blankets of love and care.

The blanket metaphors illustrate God’s warm, protective presence.

God also reaffirms His care through visions involving blankets. In Acts 10, Peter sees a vision of a large blanket being lowered from heaven containing all kinds of animals. This signals that God’s plan of salvation is for all people, not just the Jews.

Through this visionary blanket, God makes clear His expansive love and concern for all humanity. Visions of God’s blanket remind us of His unconditional grace and providence for all who turn to Him.

So while blankets could conceal sin, more often than not, they symbolized God wrapping His chosen ones in His tender embrace. The blanket images reveal God’s power to cover our failures with mercy and bless His children with a love that casts out all fear.

As one hymn declares, “Under His wings my soul shall abide, safely abide forever.”

Conclusion

In summary, while no biblical stories specifically describe someone being killed by a wet blanket, blankets and bedding do play various literal and metaphorical roles throughout Scripture. However, the precise details around bizarre deaths by soggy linens seem to be lost to history.

Hopefully this exploration has provided some insightful background regarding blankets in the ancient Biblical context!