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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She said, "Yes, Lord, and yet the house dogs usually eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."
She said, "Yes, Lord, and yet the house dogs usually eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."
and they like the places of honor at feasts and the front seats in synagogues,
and they like the places of honor at feasts and the front seats in synagogues,
He answered them, "It is one of the Twelve, the one who is dipping his bread in the dish with me.
He answered them, "It is one of the Twelve, the one who is dipping his bread in the dish with me.
So they went to Jesus and continued to urge Him earnestly, saying, "He deserves that you do this for him,
So they went to Jesus and continued to urge Him earnestly, saying, "He deserves that you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the man who built us our synagogue."
for he loves our nation, and he is the man who built us our synagogue."
There was a woman in the town who was a social outcast, and when she learned that He was taking dinner at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster bottle of perfume
There was a woman in the town who was a social outcast, and when she learned that He was taking dinner at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster bottle of perfume and took her stand behind Him at His feet, continually weeping. Then she began to wet His feet with her tears, but she continued to wipe them off with the hair of her head, and she kept right on kissing His feet with affection and anointing them with the perfume.
and took her stand behind Him at His feet, continually weeping. Then she began to wet His feet with her tears, but she continued to wipe them off with the hair of her head, and she kept right on kissing His feet with affection and anointing them with the perfume.
When He noticed how the guests were picking out the best places, He told them the following story:
When He noticed how the guests were picking out the best places, He told them the following story: "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding supper, never take the best place, for someone of greater distinction than you may have been invited,
"When you are invited by anyone to a wedding supper, never take the best place, for someone of greater distinction than you may have been invited, so that your host may not come and say to you, 'Make room for this man'; and then in embarrassment you will proceed to take and keep the lowest place.
so that your host may not come and say to you, 'Make room for this man'; and then in embarrassment you will proceed to take and keep the lowest place. But when you are invited anywhere, go and take the lowest place, so that when your host comes in, he may say to you, 'My friend, come up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow-guests.
But when you are invited anywhere, go and take the lowest place, so that when your host comes in, he may say to you, 'My friend, come up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow-guests.
But when you give a reception, make it your habit to invite people that are poor, maimed, crippled, or blind.
But when you give a reception, make it your habit to invite people that are poor, maimed, crippled, or blind.
But one of the fellow-guests heard this, and said to Him, "Happy will be the man who is fortunate enough to be at the feast in the kingdom of God."
But one of the fellow-guests heard this, and said to Him, "Happy will be the man who is fortunate enough to be at the feast in the kingdom of God."
And at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to the invited guests, 'Come, for it is now ready.'
And at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to the invited guests, 'Come, for it is now ready.'
"Now his elder son was in the field. So, on coming in, as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
"Now his elder son was in the field. So, on coming in, as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
Two days later there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and Jesus' mother was there.
Two days later there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and Jesus' mother was there.
Then He said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the manager of the feast." So they took him some.
Then He said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the manager of the feast." So they took him some. As soon as the manager tasted the water just turned into wine, without knowing where it came from, although the servants who had drawn the water did know, he called the bridegroom
As soon as the manager tasted the water just turned into wine, without knowing where it came from, although the servants who had drawn the water did know, he called the bridegroom
So they gave a dinner there in honor of Jesus, and Martha was waiting on them, but Lazarus was one of the guests with Jesus.
So they gave a dinner there in honor of Jesus, and Martha was waiting on them, but Lazarus was one of the guests with Jesus. Then Mary took a pound of expensive perfume, made of the purest oil, and poured it on Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair; and the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Then Mary took a pound of expensive perfume, made of the purest oil, and poured it on Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair; and the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
One of the disciples, whom Jesus specially loved, was sitting very close to Jesus at His right.
One of the disciples, whom Jesus specially loved, was sitting very close to Jesus at His right.
He leaned back on Jesus' breast and said to Him, "Lord, who is it?"
He leaned back on Jesus' breast and said to Him, "Lord, who is it?"
On the first day of the week when we had met to break bread, Paul addressed them, since he was leaving the next day, and prolonged his speech till midnight.
On the first day of the week when we had met to break bread, Paul addressed them, since he was leaving the next day, and prolonged his speech till 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 guests. Herod was fascinated by her,
But when the king came in to take a look at the guests, he saw there a man who did not have on a wedding suit.
"Now his elder son was in the field. So, on coming in, as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.