Entertainments.

• 2 min. read • grade level: 11

Often great. Gen. 21:8⁸And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. (Genesis 21:8). Dan. 5:1¹Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. (Daniel 5:1). Luke 5:29²⁹And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. (Luke 5:29).

GIVEN ON OCCASIONS OF

Marriage. Matt. 22:2²The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, (Matthew 22:2).

Birth days. Mar. 6:21.

Weaning children. Gen. 21:8⁸And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. (Genesis 21:8).

Taking leave of friends. 1 Kin. 19: 21.

Return of friends. 2 Sam. 12:4⁴And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. (2 Samuel 12:4). Luke 15:23²³And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: (Luke 15:23), &c.

Ratifying covenants. Gen. 26:30³⁰And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. (Genesis 26:30). Gen. 31:23²³And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. (Genesis 31:23).

Sheep-shearing. 1 Sam. 25:2, 36²And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. (1 Samuel 25:2)
³⁶And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. (1 Samuel 25:36). 2 Sam. 13:23²³And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons. (2 Samuel 13:23).

Harvest home. Ruth 3:2-7²And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. ³Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. ⁴And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. ⁵And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. ⁶And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. ⁷And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. (Ruth 3:2‑7). Isa. 9:3³Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. (Isaiah 9:3).

Vintage. Judg. 9:27²⁷And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. (Judges 9:27).

Coronation of Kings. 1 Kin. 1:9, 18, 19. 1 Chron. 12:39, 40³⁹And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them. ⁴⁰Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel. (1 Chronicles 12:39‑40). Hos. 7:5⁵In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. (Hosea 7:5).

Offering voluntary sacrifice. Gen. 31:54⁵⁴Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount. (Genesis 31:54). Deut. 12:6, 7⁶And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: ⁷And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee. (Deuteronomy 12:6‑7). 1 Sam. 1:4, 5, 9⁴And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: ⁵But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb. (1 Samuel 1:4‑5)
⁹So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. (1 Samuel 1:9).

Festivals. 1 Sam. 20:5, 24-26⁵And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. (1 Samuel 20:5)
²⁴So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. ²⁵And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. ²⁶Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. (1 Samuel 20:24‑26).

National deliverance. Esther 8:17¹⁷And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. (Esther 8:17). Esther 9:17-19¹⁷On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. ¹⁸But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. ¹⁹Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. (Esther 9:17‑19).

Preparations made for. Gen. 18:6, 7⁶And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. ⁷And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. (Genesis 18:6‑7). Prov. 9:2²She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. (Proverbs 9:2). Matt. 22:4⁴Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. (Matthew 22:4). Luke 15:23²³And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: (Luke 15:23).

KINDS OF, MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE

Dinner. Gen. 43:16¹⁶And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. (Genesis 43:16). Matt. 22:4⁴Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. (Matthew 22:4). Luke 14:12¹²Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. (Luke 14:12).

Supper. Luke 14:12¹²Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. (Luke 14:12). John 12:2²There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. (John 12:2).

Banquet of wine. Esther 5:6⁶And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. (Esther 5:6).

Under the direction of a symposiarch or master of the feast. John 2:8, 9⁸And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. ⁹When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, (John 2:8‑9).

Served often by hired servants. Matt. 22:13¹³Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:13). John 2:5⁵His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. (John 2:5).

Served often by members of the family. Gen. 18:8⁸And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. (Genesis 18:8). Luke 10:40⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. (Luke 10:40). John 12:2²There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. (John 12:2).

INVITATIONS TO

Often addressed too many. Luke 14:16¹⁶Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: (Luke 14:16).

Often only to relatives and friends. 1 Kin. 1:9. Luke 14:12¹²Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. (Luke 14:12).

Often by the master in person. 2 Sam. 13:24²⁴And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. (2 Samuel 13:24). Esther 5:4⁴And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. (Esther 5:4) Zeph. 1:7⁷Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. (Zephaniah 1:7). Luke 7:36³⁶And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. (Luke 7:36).

Repeated through servants when all things were ready. Prov. 9:1-5¹Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: ²She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. ³She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, ⁴Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, ⁵Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. (Proverbs 9:1‑5). Luke 14:17¹⁷And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. (Luke 14:17).

Should be sent to the poor, &c. Deu. 14:29, with Luke 14:13¹³But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: (Luke 14:13).

OFTEN GIVEN IN

The house. Luke 5:29²⁹And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. (Luke 5:29).

The air, beside fountains. 1 Kin. 1:9.

The court of the house. Est. 1:5, 6. Luke 7:36, 37³⁶And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. ³⁷And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, (Luke 7:36‑37).

The upper room or guest chamber. Mar. 14:14, 15.

GUESTS AT

Saluted by the master. Luke 7:45⁴⁵Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. (Luke 7:45).

Usually anointed. Psa. 23:5⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (Psalm 23:5). Luke 7:46⁴⁶My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. (Luke 7:46).

Had their feet washed when they came a distance. Gen. 18:4⁴Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: (Genesis 18:4). Gen. 43:24²⁴And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. (Genesis 43:24). Luke 7:38, 44³⁸And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:38)
⁴⁴And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. (Luke 7:44).

Arranged according to rank. Gen. 43:33³³And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another. (Genesis 43:33). 1 Sam. 9:22²²And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons. (1 Samuel 9:22). Luke 14:10¹⁰But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. (Luke 14:10).

Often had separate dishes. Gen. 43:34³⁴And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him. (Genesis 43:34). 1 Sam. 1:4⁴And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: (1 Samuel 1:4).

Often ate from the same dish. Mat. 26:23.

Forwardness to take chief seats at, condemned. Mat. 23:6. Luke 14:7, 8⁷And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, ⁸When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him; (Luke 14:7‑8).

A choice portion reserved in, for principal guests. Gen. 43:34³⁴And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him. (Genesis 43:34). 1 Sam. 1:5⁵But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb. (1 Samuel 1:5). 1 Sam. 9:23, 24²³And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. ²⁴And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. (1 Samuel 9:23‑24).

Custom of presenting the sop at, to one of the guests, alluded to. John 13:26²⁶Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. (John 13:26).

Portions of, often sent to the absent. 2 Sam. 11:8⁸And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. (2 Samuel 11:8). Neh. 8:10¹⁰Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10). Est. 9:19.

Offence given by refusing to go to. Luke 14:18, 24¹⁸And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. (Luke 14:18)
²⁴For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. (Luke 14:24).

Anxiety to have many guests at, alluded to. Luke 14:22, 23²²And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. ²³And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:22‑23).

Men and women did not usually meet at. Est. 1:8, 9. Mar. 6:21. with Mat. 14:11.

None admitted to, after the master had risen and shut the door. Luke 13:24, 25²⁴Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ²⁵When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:24‑25).

Began with thanksgiving. 1 Sam. 9:13¹³As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him. (1 Samuel 9:13). Mar. 8:6.

Concluded with a hymn. Mar. 14:26.

None asked to eat or to drink more than he liked at. Est. 1:8.

Music and dancing often introduced at. Amos 6:5⁵That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; (Amos 6:5). Mar. 6:22. Luke 15:25²⁵Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. (Luke 15:25).

Often scenes of great intemperance. 1 Sam. 25:36³⁶And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. (1 Samuel 25:36). Dan. 5:3, 4³Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. ⁴They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. (Daniel 5:3‑4). Hos. 7:5⁵In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. (Hosea 7:5).

Given by the guests in return. Job 1:4⁴And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. (Job 1:4). Luke 14:12¹²Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. (Luke 14:12).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Devil, the.

• Devotedness to God.

• Diet of the Jews, the.

• Diligence.

• Diseases.

• Disobedience to God.

• Doctrines of the Gospel, the.

• Emblems of the Holy Ghost, the.

• Enemies.

• Entertainments.