Banquets were social and religious feasts involving food, wine, music, and celebration. They accompanied festivals, sacrifices, weddings, birthdays, and other important occasions, but could also become occasions of excess.
Definition
Banquets were formal social or religious feasts involving food, wine, music, perfumes, garlands, special clothing, and celebration. They were held for festivals, sacrifices, weddings, birthdays, and other important occasions. Guests were arranged according to dignity, and the evening was the usual time for the feast.
Biblical Usage
The Israelites held family banquets during the three solemn festivals, and sacrifices included meals. Biblical examples also include birthday celebrations and wedding feasts. Banqueting could express joy and hospitality, but beginning early or prolonging the feast with excessive drinking was regarded as improper.
Historical Background
Ancient banqueting rooms commonly featured wine, sometimes mixed with spices, perfumed unguents, flowers, music, singers, dancers, riddles, and jesting. Earlier Israelites sat at table, while reclining became customary in New Testament times.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
among the Hebrews, were not only a means of social enjoyment, but were a part of the observance of religious festivity. At the three solemn festivals the family also had its domestic feast. (16:11) Sacrifices, both ordinary and extraordinary, (Exodus 34:15; Judges 16:23) includes a banquet. Birthday banquets are only mentioned (Genesis 40:20; Matthew 14:6) The usual time of the banquet was the evening, and to begin early was a mark of excess. (Ecclesiastes 10:16; Isaiah 5:11) The most essential materials of the banqueting room, next to the viands and wine, which last was often drugged with spices, (Proverbs 9:2) were perfumed unguents, garlands or loose flowers, white or brilliant robes; after these, exhibitions of music singers and dancers, riddles, jesting and merriment. (Judges 14:12; 2 Samuel 19:35; Nehemiah 8:10; Ecclesiastes 10:19; Isaiah 5:12; 25:6; 28:1; Matthew 22:11; Luke 15:25) The posture at table in early times was sitting, (1 Samuel 16:11; 20:5,18) and the guests were ranged in order of dignity. (Genesis 43:33; 1Sam 9:22 Words which imply the recumbent posture belong to the New Testament.
