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Topic:
Thoughts And Things Of The Bible -- Banquet
A banquet is a feast provided for the entertainment of a company of
guests (Esther 5; 7; 1 Pet. 4:3); such as was provided for our Lord by
his friends in Bethany (Matt. 26:6; Mark 14:3; comp. John 12:2). These
meals were in the days of Christ usually called "suppers,"
after the custom of the Romans, and were partaken of toward the close of
the day. It was usual to send a second invitation (Matt. 22:3; Luke
14:17) to those who had been already invited. When the whole company was
assembled, the master of the house shut the door with his own hands
(Luke 13:25; Matt. 25:10). The guests were first refreshed with water
and fragrant oil (Luke 7:38; Mark 7:4). A less frequent custom was that
of supplying each guest with a robe to be worn during the feast (Eccles.
9:8; Rev. 3:4, 5; Matt. 22:11). At private banquets the master of the
house presided; but on public occasions a "governor of the
feast" was chosen (John 2:8). The guests were placed in order
according to seniority (Gen. 43:33), or according to the rank they held
(Prov. 25:6,7; Matt. 23:6; Luke 14:7). As spoons and knives and forks
are a modern invention, and were altogether unknown in the East, the
hands alone were necessarily used, and were dipped in the dish, which
was common to two of the guests (John 13:26). In the days of our Lord
the guests reclined at table; but the ancient Israelites sat around low
tables, cross-legged, like the modern Orientals. Guests were specially
honoured when extra portions were set before them (Gen. 43:34), and when
their cup was filled with wine till it ran over (Ps. 23:5). The hands of
the guests were usually cleaned by being rubbed on bread, the crumbs of
which fell to the ground, and were the portion for dogs (Matt. 15:27;
Luke 16:21). At the time of the three annual festivals at Jerusalem
family banquets were common. To these the "widow, and the
fatherless, and the stranger" were welcome (Deut. 16:11).
Sacrifices also included a banquet (Ex. 34:15; Judg. 16:23). Birthday
banquets are mentioned (Gen. 40:20; Matt. 14:6). They were sometimes
protracted, and attended with revelry and excess (Gen. 21:8; 29:22; 1
Sam. 25:2,36; 2 Sam. 13:23). Portions were sometimes sent from the table
to poorer friends (Neh. 8:10; Esther 9:19, 22).
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries
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