Dictionary of Bible Themes Grand, celebratory meals consisting usually of rich food and flowing wine. Banquets usually accompanied weddings, religious festivals and other celebrations. Prophecies of the Messianic age refer to a banquet to which the righteous will be invited. Songs 2:4Characteristics of banquets See also They were usually held in a hall Esther 7:8Daniel 5:10 Luke 14:7-11 See also Honoured guests were given special places Proverbs 25:6-7Matthew 23:6 pp Mk 12:39 Esther 1:6pp Lk 20:46 Matthew 26:7Guests reclined on couches John 12:2pp Mk 14:3 pp Lk 7:36 Luke 14:17Invitations were sent out pp Mt 22:3 Matthew 22:2Occasions for holding banquets See also To celebrate weddings Genesis 29:21-22Judges 14:10 a feast celebrates Jacob's wedding Esther 2:18Samson gives a wedding feast Matthew 25:10Luke 12:36 Xerxes celebrates Esther's choice as queen with a banquet John 2:8-9Revelation 19:9 Genesis 40:20 the marriage supper of the Lamb Mark 6:21To celebrate birthdays Genesis 21:8To celebrate other events Esther 8:17; 9:17-19Abraham celebrates Isaac's weaning. Luke 15:23Jews celebrate their deliverance from Haman in what became the Feast of Purim: Psalms 22:29The father celebrates the prodigal son's return. See also Religious celebrations 2 Chronicles 30:21-22; 35:13Zechariah 7:6 Isaiah 25:6 Activities at banquets See also Good food and drink Job 1:4Zechariah 7:6 Matthew 22:4 Luke 15:23 1 Samuel 25:36 See also Drunkenness and revelry Esther 1:7-8,10Ecclesiastes 10:19 Jeremiah 51:39 Daniel 5:3-4 Isaiah 5:12 See also Music and dancing Matthew 14:6Luke 15:25 pp Mk 6:22 Genesis 26:30Further examples of banquets Genesis 43:34Isaac holds a feast for Abimelech 2 Samuel 3:20Joseph feasts with his brothers 1 Kings 3:15David holds a feast for Abner Esther 1:3,5Solomon gives a feast for all his court. Esther 1:9Xerxes gives a banquet for his nobles and officials: Esther 5:4-5,8Queen Vashti holds a banquet for the women of the palace. Daniel 5:1-2Esther prepares banquets for the king and Haman: Luke 5:29Belshazzar has a banquet for 1,000 nobles Luke 14:1pp Mt 9:10 Levi holds a banquet for Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is the guest of a leading Pharisee. Luke 14:12-14An invitation to a banquet seen as a sign of God's grace See also 2 Kings 6:23Matthew 22:8-10 The king of Israel prepares a banquet for captured Aramean troops pp Lk 14:21-23 Matthew 8:11The Messianic banquet See also Luke 13:29; 14:15See also 4404 food4434 drinking 4438 eating 5231 birthday 5355 invitations 5699 guests 5710 marriage, customs 5742 wedding 5878 honour 7354 feasts and festivals 8642 celebration 9150 Messianic banquet |
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