Inn

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 1min
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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We read of the inn as early as Genesis 42:2727And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth. (Genesis 42:27) and Genesis 43:21,21And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. (Genesis 43:21) when Jacob sent to Egypt for corn. As the word malon signifies simply “lodging place,” at first nothing more may be implied than a place near water, where travelers usually rested. It would soon have been found that persons traveling long distances needed protection and some better resting place at night, which led to such places being provided at certain stations. Those known in the East were merely enclosures walled round for security, with covered compartments attached to the walls, where travelers could recline, and place their goods. It was at an inn that Zipporah circumcised her son (Ex. 4:2424And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him. (Exodus 4:24)).
In the New Testament when the Lord was born, the word for “inn” is κατάλυμα, which is translated “guest-chamber” (Mark 14:1414And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? (Mark 14:14); Luke 22:1111And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? (Luke 22:11)); and may refer to a lodging house. Travelers have found such accommodation, and at times cattle occupied part of the house, which might account for a “manger” being found there. In Luke 10:3434And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Luke 10:34) the word is πανδοχεῖον, “a house for the reception of strangers,” a road-side inn. As there was a “host” to whom the injured man was committed, it was doubtless a better place than a Khan.