Mar 2:4 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 4. They uncovered the roof ] The houses in the east are generally made flat-roofed , that the inhabitants may have the benefit of taking the air on them; they are also furnished with battlements round about, ; ; and , to prevent persons from falling off; and have a trap door by which they descend into the house. This door, it appears, was too narrow to let down the sick man and his couch; so they uncovered the roof , removed a part of the tiles ; and having broken it up , taken away the laths or timber , to which the tiles had been attached , they then had room to let down the afflicted man. See , and on .

‏ Mark 2:4

Verse 4. They uncovered the roof] The houses in the east are generally made flat-roofed, that the inhabitants may have the benefit of taking the air on them; they are also furnished with battlements round about, De 22:8; Jud 16:27; and 2Sa 11:2, to prevent persons from falling off; and have a trap door by which they descend into the house. This door, it appears, was too narrow to let down the sick man and his couch; so they uncovered the roof, removed a part of the tiles; and having broken it up, taken away the laths or timber, to which the tiles had been attached, they then had room to let down the afflicted man. See Lu 5:19, and on Mt 10:27; 24:17.