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 (Exod 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).