Sleep in the Biblical Period

Abstract

Scientists today consider their discoveries to be landmarks. Yet thousands of years ago, there was already a tremendous amount of knowledge about sleep. In the Bible, sleep is generally viewed as both pleasant and necessary. There are references to sleep that can be directly interpreted by what we know today about sleep disorders. Our forefathers and foremothers were aware that sleep was not one continuous stage. They refer to the function of sleep as being restorative. They deplored sleep deprivation, believing that it impairs life. They felt that excessive sleepiness is harmful. They understood that insomnia could be caused by stress and anxiety and by excessive alcohol, and that physical activity (exercise) and drinking milk could improve sleep. They suggested cures for insomnia, including some of the ideas included in today's sleep hygiene rules. They understood that there is a rhythm or timing to sleep. They often took naps in the afternoon, but suggested just how long that nap should last—about one-half hour. And they knew that with age, sleep is advanced, but that healthy elderly do not have difficulty sleeping. Although we think we have discovered many new features about sleep disorders, most of what we have done is match scientific data to ideas documented in the Bible and Talmud. Our modern scientific knowledge about sleep is not new and existed even in biblical times. This wisdom is also mentioned in the Bible: 'what has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun'. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)