VESSEL
The Hebrew term. More frequently, “sir” means a container, large or small (2 Kings 4:38), of earth or metal (Ex. 38:3), for very diverse uses, such as for cooking meat (Ex. 16: 3; 2 Chr. 35:13; Jb. 41:22; Ez. 24:3-5); There were also vessels for washing (Ps. 60:8) and for refining metals (Prov. 27:21).
The term “dud” undoubtedly designated a similar vessel (Jb. 41:11; 1 Sam. 2:14; 2 Chron. 35:13), or a pot. This is also the approximate meaning of “kalahath”: crucible, pot, cauldron (1 Sam. 2:14; Mi. 3:3).
The water needed in homes was kept in stone vessels, stoneware jugs, or other materials (John 2:6; cf. Odyssey 13:105), which could also be used for other liquids and solids.
A baked clay vessel, which generally had two handles, was used to draw water from the well and to carry it from the well or fountain to the home (cf. Eccl. 12:8).
Generally, it was the women who went to fetch water for the house; they carried the vessels on their heads or backs (Gen. 24:13, 15, 16; Jn. 4:28); men wore them occasionally (Mark 14:13).
Wine was kept in earthen vessels (Herodotus 3:6), which were often of large dimensions (Odyssey 2:340). Cooking oil or flour was also kept in them (1 Kings 17:12).