Deuteronomy 22:8

“When thou buildest a new house, etc.] Which is to be understood of a house to dwell in, not of a granary, barn, or stable, or such like, and every house that is not four cubits square, as Maimonides observes f350: then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof; in the Talmud f351 it is asked, what is the meaning of, or why is it said, “thy roof?” to except synagogues and schools; the gloss upon which is, synagogues, etc. do not belong to any single person, and besides are no dwelling place. A battlement, as Jarrift describes it, was a fence round the roof; or, as more fully described by Kimchi f352, it was an edifice made for a roof round about it, ten hands high, or more, that a person…”

“thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence--The tops of houses in ancient Judea, as in the East still, were flat, being composed of branches or twigs laid across large beams, and covered with a cement of clay or strong plaster. They were surrounded by a parapet breast high. In summer the roof is a favorite resort for coolness, and accidents would frequently happen from persons incautiously approaching the edge and falling into the street or court; hence it was a wise and prudent precaution in the Jewish legislator to provide that a stone balustrade or timber railing round the roof should form an essential part of every…”

“These precepts are designed to cultivate a spirit of humanity. Compare Deuteronomy 25:4; Leviticus 22:28; and 1 Corinthians 9:9-10. Deuteronomy 22:8 The roofs of houses in Palestine were flat and used for various purposes. Compare Jos 2:6; 2 Samuel 11:2; Acts 10:9, etc. A battlement was almost a necessary protection. It was to be, according to the rabbis, at least two cubits high (about 3 ft.). return to 'Top of Page'”

“A battlement - A fence or breastwork, because the roofs of their houses were made flat, that men might walk on them. Blood - The guilt of blood, by a man's fall from the top of thy house, thro' thy neglect of this necessary provision. The Jew's say, that by the equity of this law, they are obliged, and so are we, to fence or remove every thing, whereby life may he endangered, as wells, or bridges, lest if any perish thro' our omission, their blood be required at our hand. Deuteronomy 22:9”

“then thou shalt: The eastern houses being built with flat roofs, which were used for various purposed, as walking, sleeping, etc., it was therefore necessary to have a sort of battlement, or balustrade, to prevent accidents, by people falling off. Exo 21:28-36, Exo 22:6; Rom 14:13; Co1 10:32; Phi 1:10; Th1 5:22 thy roof: Sa2 11:2; Isa 22:1; Jer 19:13; Mat 10:27; Mar 2:4; Act 10:9 thou bring: Eze 3:18, Eze 3:20, Eze 32:2-9; Mat 18:6, Mat 18:7; Act 20:26, Act 20:27 Deuteronomy 22:9”