Rooftops were places of great activity in Bible times. The high, open, flat surfaces were perfect for winnowing chaff from grain, drying fruit, storing grain, nuts, and fruit, and sun-bleaching laundry. Rooftops were also household gathering places because so much work was done there, and they were sleeping places on the hot nights of summer. But rooftops, because of their height, their openness, and frequent assemblies of people, rooftops were great places from which to shout the news.