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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"True, Lord," she said, "but even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."
"True, Lord," she said, "but even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."
"and lengthen the tassels, and are fond of the best places at banquets, and the front seats in the synagogues.
"and lengthen the tassels, and are fond of the best places at banquets, and the front seats in the synagogues.
"It is one of the Twelve," said Jesus, "one who is dipping into the same dish with me.
"It is one of the Twelve," said Jesus, "one who is dipping into the same dish with me.
And they, when they reached Jesus, asked him earnestly to do this. "He deserves that you should do this," they said,
And they, when they reached Jesus, asked him earnestly to do this. "He deserves that you should do this," they said, "for he loves our nation, and himself has built a synagogue for us."
"for he loves our nation, and himself has built a synagogue for us."
Now there was a woman who was in the city, a sinner and when she knew that that Jesus was reclining at meat in the Pharisees house, she brought an alabaster vase of perfume,
Now there was a woman who was in the city, a sinner and when she knew that that Jesus was reclining at meat in the Pharisees house, she brought an alabaster vase of perfume, and standing behind, at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and to wipe them with her hair, while she tenderly kissed his feet, and poured the perfume over them.
and standing behind, at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and to wipe them with her hair, while she tenderly kissed his feet, and poured the perfume over them.
He told a parable to the guests when he noticed how they began choosing the best seats. He said to them.
He told a parable to the guests when he noticed how they began choosing the best seats. He said to them. "When you are invited by any one to a marriage-feast, do not sit down in the best seat, lest a guest more distinguished than yourself has been invited, and your host come to you and say,
"When you are invited by any one to a marriage-feast, do not sit down in the best seat, lest a guest more distinguished than yourself has been invited, and your host come to you and say, "'Give place to this man,' and then with mortification you proceed to take the lowest place.
"'Give place to this man,' and then with mortification you proceed to take the lowest place. "But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when your host arrives he may say to you, 'My friend, come up higher.' Then you will be honored before the other guest.
"But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when your host arrives he may say to you, 'My friend, come up higher.' Then you will be honored before the other guest.
"But when you make a reception, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
"But when you make a reception, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
One of his fellow guest who was listening to him, said to him, "Blessed are those who eat bread in the kingdom of God."
One of his fellow guest who was listening to him, said to him, "Blessed are those who eat bread in the kingdom of God."
"At dinnertime he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'
"At dinnertime he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'
"So they began to make merry. But his elder son was in the field, and as he drew near to the house he heard music and dancing,
"So they began to make merry. But his elder son was in the field, and as he drew near to the house he heard music and dancing,
Now two days after this there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;
Now two days after this there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;
So they filled them brimful. Then he said, "Draw some out now, and carry it to the master of the feast."
So they filled them brimful. Then he said, "Draw some out now, and carry it to the master of the feast." So they carried it. And when the master of the feast had tasted of the water which had been made wine, not knowing where it came from, though the attendants who had drawn it knew, he called the bridegroom and said to him.
So they carried it. And when the master of the feast had tasted of the water which had been made wine, not knowing where it came from, though the attendants who had drawn it knew, he called the bridegroom and said to him.
So they gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served it; but Lazarus was one of those who reclined with him at table.
So they gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served it; but Lazarus was one of those who reclined with him at table. Then Mary took a pound of pure spikenard, very costly, and poured it over his feet, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Then Mary took a pound of pure spikenard, very costly, and poured it over his feet, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
There was reclining upon Jesus' breast one of the disciples whom he loved.
There was reclining upon Jesus' breast one of the disciples whom he loved.
So that disciples just leaned back against Jesus' breast and said to him, "Lord, who is it?"
So that disciples just leaned back against Jesus' breast and said to him, "Lord, who is it?"
On the first day of the week we met for the breaking of bread, and Paul, who was going away the next morning, began preaching to them, and prolonged his discourse until midnight.
On the first day of the week we met for the breaking of bread, and Paul, who was going away the next morning, began preaching to them, and prolonged his discourse until midnight.
And he said to me, Write, "Blessed are those who have been bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of God."
And he said to me, Write, "Blessed are those who have been bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are 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, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company,
"Then the king came in to inspect his guests, and he discovered there a man who had not put on a wedding-garment. He said to him,
"So they began to make merry. But his elder son was in the field, and as he drew near to the house he heard music and dancing,