Entertain
Entertainments, "feasts," were sometimes connected with a public festival (Deut. 16:11, 14), and accompanied by offerings (1 Sam. 9:13), in token of alliances (Gen. 26:30); sometimes in connection with domestic or social events, as at the weaning of children (Gen. 21:8), at weddings (Gen. 29:22; John 2:1), on birth-days (Matt. 14:6), at the time of sheep-shearing (2 Sam. 13:23), and of vintage (Judg. 9:27), and at funerals (2 Sam. 3:35; Jer. 16:7). The guests were invited by servants (Prov. 9:3; Matt. 22:3), who assigned them their respective places (1 Sam. 9:22; Luke 14:8; Mark 12:39). Like portions were sent by the master to each guest (1 Sam. 1:4; 2 Sam. 6:19), except when special honour was intended, when the portion was increased (Gen. 43:34). The Israelites were forbidden to attend heathenish sacrificial entertainments (Ex. 34:15), because these were in honour of false gods, and because at such feast they would be liable to partake of unclean flesh (1 Cor. 10:28). In the entertainments common in apostolic times among the Gentiles were frequent "revellings," against which Christians were warned (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Pet. 4:3). (See [190]BANQUET.)
Passages cited in this entry
Deuteronomy 16:11 · 1 Samuel 9:13 · Genesis 26:30 · Genesis 21:8 · Genesis 29:22 · John 2:1 · Matthew 14:6 · 2 Samuel 13:23 · Judges 9:27 · 2 Samuel 3:35 · Jeremiah 16:7 · Proverbs 9:3 · Matthew 22:3 · 1 Samuel 9:22 · Luke 14:8 · Mark 12:39 · 1 Samuel 1:4 · 2 Samuel 6:19 · Genesis 43:34 · Exodus 34:15 · 1 Corinthians 10:28 · Romans 13:13 · Galatians 5:21 · 1 Peter 4:3
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 3rd edition (1897). Public domain; text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. A nineteenth-century Protestant reference: its dates, archaeology and judgements reflect the scholarship of its time and are not Imago Dei's editorial position.