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, "Yes, Lord; for even the little dogs eat of the crumbs falling from the master's table."
But she said, "Yes, Lord; for even the little dogs eat of the crumbs falling from the master's table."
and they love the first place in the feasts, and the front seats in the synagogues,
and they love the first place in the feasts, and the front seats in the synagogues,
And He said to them, "It is one of the twelve??e that is dipping with Me in the dish.
And He said to them, "It is one of the twelve??e that is dipping with Me in the dish.
And they, coming to Jesus, were earnestly beseeching Him, saying, "He is worthy for whom Thou shalt do this;
And they, coming to Jesus, were earnestly beseeching Him, saying, "He is worthy for whom Thou shalt do this; for he loves our nation, and he built the synagogue for us."
for he loves our nation, and he built the synagogue for us."
And, behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and, learning that He was reclining at table in the house of the Pharisee, having provided an alabaster cruse of perfume;
And, behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and, learning that He was reclining at table in the house of the Pharisee, having provided an alabaster cruse of perfume; and standing behind at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and wiped them off with the hair of her head; and she kept kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume.
and standing behind at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and wiped them off with the hair of her head; and she kept kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume.
And He spake a parable to those who were bidden, when He observed how they were choosing out the first seats; saying to them,
And He spake a parable to those who were bidden, when He observed how they were choosing out the first seats; saying to them, "When you are bidden by any one to a marriage feast, sit not on the first seat, lest possibly a more honorable man than you may have been invited by him;
"When you are bidden by any one to a marriage feast, sit not on the first seat, lest possibly a more honorable man than you may have been invited by him; and he who bade you and him, coming, shall say to you, 'Give place to this man;' and then you shall, with shame, begin to occupy the lowest place.
and he who bade you and him, coming, shall say to you, 'Give place to this man;' and then you shall, with shame, begin to occupy the lowest place. But, when you are invited, going, sit in the lowest place, that, when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher;' then you will have glory in the presence of all who are reclining at table with you;
But, when you are invited, going, sit in the lowest place, that, when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher;' then you will have glory in the presence of all who are reclining at table with you;
but, when you make a feast, call the poor, maimed, lame, blind;
but, when you make a feast, call the poor, maimed, lame, blind;
And one of those reclining with Him, hearing these things, said to Him, "happy is he who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God!"
And one of those reclining with Him, hearing these things, said to Him, "happy is he who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God!"
And he sent forth his servant, at the hour of the supper, to say to those invited, 'Come; because all things are now ready.'
And he sent forth his servant, at the hour of the supper, to say to those invited, 'Come; because all things are now ready.'
"Now his elder son was in a field; and as, in coming, he drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
"Now his elder son was in a field; and as, in coming, he drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
And, on the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there.
And, on the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there.
And He saith to them, "Draw out now, and bear to the ruler of the feast." And they bore it.
And He saith to them, "Draw out now, and bear to the ruler of the feast." And they bore it. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calls the bridegroom,
When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calls the bridegroom,
They, therefore, made Him a supper there; and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him.
They, therefore, made Him a supper there; and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him. Mary, therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of pure spikenard, very costly, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
Mary, therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of pure spikenard, very costly, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
He, leaning back as he was on the breast of Jesus, says to Him, "Lord, who is it?"
He, leaning back as he was on the breast of Jesus, says to Him, "Lord, who is it?"
And on the first day of the sabbaths, we having come together to break bread, Paul was discoursing to them (being about to depart on the morrow), and continued the discourse until midnight.
And on the first day of the sabbaths, we having come together to break bread, Paul was discoursing to them (being about to depart on the morrow), and continued the discourse until midnight.
And he says to me, "Write, Happy are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he says to me, "These are true words of God."
And he says to me, "Write, Happy are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he says 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, on a birthday celebration of Herod, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod.
"And he saw there a man not having on a wedding-garment;
"Now his elder son was in a field; and as, in coming, he drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.