The lamps of the ancients, sometimes called "candles" in our Bible, were cups and vessels of many convenient and graceful shapes; and might be carried in the hand, or set upon a stand. See Job 18:5,6 Proverbs 13:9 20:20 Jeremiah 25:10,11; while a constant light was significant of prosperity and perpetuity, 2 Samuel 21:17 1 Kings 11:36 Psalm 132:17 . Lamps to be carried in the streets presented a large surface of wicking to the air, and needed to be frequently replenished from a vessel of oil borne in the other hand, Matthew 25:3,4 . Torches and lanterns, John 18:3 , were very necessary in ancient cities, the streets of which were never lighted.