PITCHER . The earthenware jar (cf. Lamentations 4:2 ‘earthen pitchers’) in which in all ages the women and maidens of Palestine have drawn and carried the water from the village well ( Genesis 24:14 ff.). In wealthy households this task was performed by a slave or other menial ( Mark 14:13 , Luke 22:10 ). For illustrations of water-jars found in ancient cisterns, see Macalister, Bible Sidelights , etc., fig. 22, and the works cited under House, § 9 .

A. R. S. Kennedy.