Reference: Banquets
Fausets
Both social and religious. At the three great religious feasts, when all the males appeared before Jehovah, the family had its feast, of which the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow had their share (De 16:11). Sacrifices were accompanied by a feast (Ex 34:15; Jg 16:23-25). The "lovefeasts" of the early Christians sprung from these sacrificial feasts; as the Lord's supper came from the Passover. The tithes and firstlings were to be eaten at the sanctuary, if not too far off (De 12:17-18; 14:22-23). Males and females met together at feasts of old (Joh 2:1). Vashti's separate Women's banquet was a Persian, not Jewish, custom (Es 1:9). In magnificent feasts, as at royal weddings, a general invitation was given; the accepters were summoned by a second message at the time of the feast (Pr 9:1-3; Lu 14:17; Matthew 22).
The entertainer provided robes for the guests, to be worn in his honor and as a token of his regard, in Old Testament times the Israelites sat at table (1Sa 16:11); and in the order of their dignity or seniority (Ge 43:33); which explains the point of Jesus' exhortation to take the lowest place (Lu 14:7-10; Mt 23:6). The Persians reclined on couches (Es 7:8). So the Romans. From these the Jews adopted reclining. Thus, the sinful woman could come behind the conch where Jesus lay, and anoint His feet (Lu 7:37-38); and Mary, sister of Lazarus (Joh 12:2-3); and "John leaned on the Lord's bosom" at the last supper (Joh 13:23,25). Amos reprobates the luxury (Am 6:4-6). Perfumes were freely used at rich feasts (Ps 23:5; Ec 9:7-8). A "governor of the feast" was appointed (Joh 2:8-9).
The usual time was evening, to begin earlier was a mark of excess (Isa 5:11; Ec 10:16). "Spiced wine" was often used (Song 8:2). Garlands or crowns of flowers on the head (Isa 28:1). Music, vocal and instrumental (Isa 5:12), and dancing (Lu 15:25). Wedding feasts often lasted seven days (Jg 14:12). Portions were sent from the entertainer to each guest, and a double or fivefold portion, or special part, to a distinguished guest (1Sa 1:5; 9:23-24; compare 2Sa 11:8; Ge 43:34). Portions direct from table were sent to poorer friends (Ne 8:10; compare Lu 14:13; Es 9:19,22). A kiss was the proper courtesy wherewith the heat received each guest; to omit it was to be wanting in kindliness (Lu 7:4-5).
In the absence of modern knives, forks and spoons, they dipped their hands together in the same dish (Mr 14:20; Pr 19:24; 26:15, for "bosom" translate dish). After dinner the hands were wiped in a cloth, after a servant had poured water on them (compare Elisha's office for Elijah, 2Ki 3:11), or were wiped on pieces of bread, which were then thrown to the household dogs (which illustrates Mt 15:27). A banquet is a frequent emblem of heavenly happiness (Isa 25:6; Lu 14:15; Re 19:9).
To eat bread includes drinking. So in the case of the Lord's supper (Ac 20:7). So the cup is not expressly mentioned in the Passover supper in the Old Testament but De 14:26; Isa 25:6 imply the use of wine at it. In Eli's days drinking to excess even at the Lord's feasts was not uncommon (1Sa 1:14-15). Four cups of wine were mixed with water, blessed and passed round by the master of the feast at the Passover. In Song 2:4 the heavenly Bridegroom's "banqueting house" (house of wine) is the church in its public ordinances for refreshing the soul, the ministry of the word, joint prayer, and the Lord's supper (compare Ps 36:8).
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But she said, "O yes, sir! For even dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters' table!"
But she said, "O yes, sir! For even dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters' table!"
and they like the best places at dinners and the front seats in the synagogues,
and they like the best places at dinners and the front seats in the synagogues,
He said to them, "It is one of the Twelve, who is dipping his bread in the same dish with me.
He said to them, "It is one of the Twelve, who is dipping his bread in the same dish with me.
And they went to Jesus and urged him strongly to do it, and said, "He deserves to have you do this for him,
And they went to Jesus and urged him strongly to do it, and said, "He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and it was he who built us our synagogue."
for he loves our nation, and it was he who built us our synagogue."
Now there was a woman in the town who was leading a sinful life, and when she learned that he was having dinner at the Pharisee's house, she got an alabaster flask of perfume,
Now there was a woman in the town who was leading a sinful life, and when she learned that he was having dinner at the Pharisee's house, she got an alabaster flask of perfume, and came and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with her hair, and kissed them, and put the perfume on them.
and came and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with her hair, and kissed them, and put the perfume on them.
He noticed that the guests picked out the best places, and he gave them this illustration:
He noticed that the guests picked out the best places, and he gave them this illustration: "When someone invites you to a wedding supper, do not take the best place, for someone more distinguished than you are may have been invited,
"When someone invites you to a wedding supper, do not take the best place, for someone more distinguished than you are may have been invited, and your host will come and say to you 'Make room for this man,' and then you will proceed in confusion to take the poorest place.
and your host will come and say to you 'Make room for this man,' and then you will proceed in confusion to take the poorest place. But when you are invited anywhere, go and take the poorest place, so that when your host comes in, he will say to you, 'My friend, come to a better place.' So you will be shown consideration before all the other guests.
But when you are invited anywhere, go and take the poorest place, so that when your host comes in, he will say to you, 'My friend, come to a better place.' So you will be shown consideration before all the other guests.
But when you give an entertainment, invite people who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind.
But when you give an entertainment, invite people who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind.
One of the other guests heard this, and said to him, "Blessed is the man who shall be at the banquet in the Kingdom of God!"
One of the other guests heard this, and said to him, "Blessed is the man who shall be at the banquet in the Kingdom of God!"
and when the dinner hour came, he sent around his slave, to say to those who were invited, 'Come! for it is now ready!'
and when the dinner hour came, he sent around his slave, to say to those who were invited, 'Come! for it is now ready!'
But his elder son was in the field. When he came in and approached the house, he heard music and dancing,
But his elder son was in the field. When he came in and approached the house, he heard music and dancing,
Two days later there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and Jesus' mother was present.
Two days later there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and Jesus' mother was present.
So they filled them full. And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast."
So they filled them full. And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." And they did so. When the master of the feast tasted the water which had now turned into wine, without knowing where it had come from??hough the servants who had drawn the water knew??10 he called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone else serves his good wine first, and his poorer wine after people have drunk deeply, but you have kept back your good wine till now!"
And they did so. When the master of the feast tasted the water which had now turned into wine, without knowing where it had come from??hough the servants who had drawn the water knew??10 he called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone else serves his good wine first, and his poorer wine after people have drunk deeply, but you have kept back your good wine till now!"
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha waited on them, while Lazarus was at the table with him.
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha waited on them, while Lazarus was at the table with him. And Mary took a pound of choice perfume, very costly, and poured it on Jesus' feet, and then wiped his feet with her hair, and the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
And Mary took a pound of choice perfume, very costly, and poured it on Jesus' feet, and then wiped his feet with her hair, and the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Next to Jesus, at his right at the table, was one of his disciples whom Jesus especially loved.
Next to Jesus, at his right at the table, was one of his disciples whom Jesus especially loved.
He leaned back from where he lay, on Jesus' breast, and said to him, "Master, who is it?"
He leaned back from where he lay, on Jesus' breast, and said to him, "Master, who is it?"
On the first day of the week, when we had met for the breaking of bread, Paul addressed them, as he was going away the next morning, and he prolonged his address until midnight.
On the first day of the week, when we had met for the breaking of bread, Paul addressed them, as he was going away the next morning, and he prolonged his address until midnight.
Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are they who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' These," he said to me, "are the true words of God."
Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are they who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' These," he said to me, "are the true words of God."
Smith
among the Hebrews, were not only a means of social enjoyment, but were a part of the observance of religious festivity. At the three solemn festivals the family also had its domestic feast.
De 16:11
Sacrifices, both ordinary and extraordinary,
includes a banquet. Birthday banquets are only mentioned
The usual time of the banquet was the evening, and to begin early was a mark of excess.
The most essential materials of the banqueting room, next to the viands and wine, which last was often drugged with spices,
were perfumed unguents, garlands or loose flowers, white or brilliant robes; after these, exhibitions of music singers and dancers, riddles, jesting and merriment.
Jg 14:12; 2Sa 19:35; Ne 8:10; Ec 10:19; Isa 5:12; 25:6; 28:1; Mt 22:11; Lu 15:25
The posture at table in early times was sitting,
and the guests were ranged in order of dignity. (Gene 43:33; 1Sam 9:22 Words which imply the recumbent posture belong to the New Testament.
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But when Herod's birthday came, Herodias' daughter danced before the company. And Herod was delighted with her,
But when the king came in to view the guests, he saw among them a man who did not have on wedding clothes.
But his elder son was in the field. When he came in and approached the house, he heard music and dancing,