One after another, the guests made excuses for not coming. The Bible is a compilation of 66 books and letters written by more than 40 authors during a period of approximately 1,500 years. And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. Jesus told his disciples that the Last Supper would be fulfilled in the Great Banquet or Great Feast in the Kingdom of God. Some man gave a big dinner. In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers, and the military leaders of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the provincial officials were present. He brought me to the banquet hall,and he looked on me with love. Search Catholic Online for Catholic news, entertainment, information, media, saints, Bible, and prayers. And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? One of the guests remarked: "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God" (Luke 14:15). (8) The wedding banquet which is ready (verses 8 and 10) is the calling out and completion of the Church. The evidence for this is found in the diverse ways in which the theme of the Messianic Banqu… A Bible Study by Jack Kelley. Thus (Song 2:4), "He brought me to the banqueting-house" is literally, "the house of wine," and Est 7:2 has in the Hebrew "a banquet of wine." —Psalm 138:2, KJV Though the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is a definite reality in eternity, there is much evidence in the Bible that the Feast of the Lord happens in this life. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. Thus (Song 2:4), "He brought me to the banqueting-house" is literally, "the house of wine," and Est 7:2 has in the Hebrew "a banquet of wine." Mar 27, 2020 - Explore Norma Linder Cook's board "Parable of Great Banquet", followed by 296 people on Pinterest. Here we see the true nature of a parable--it is an extended simile. Definition of BANQUET, BANQUETED, BANQUETER, and BANQUETING from the King James Bible Dictionary Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Jesus told these parables at the house of a prominent Phraisee during a banquet to which he had been invited.. even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. term מִשְׁתֶּה, H5492, is a maqtal form of the verb שָׁתָה֮, H9272, as used in Esther. Find your place in God's story. Why? General Editor. This parable of the wedding banquet is similar to the Parable of the Great Dinner in Luke 14:16-24, having a similar message, but it is generally considered to be a separate parable due to the differences.. 19, the wedding banquet will take place in Heaven just before the Lord returns to establish His Kingdom on Earth. "There was once a rich man who habitually arrayed himself in purple and fine linen, and enjoyed a splendid banquet every day. (2) Another question raised is this, Were the ancient Jews accustomed to have two or three meals a day? Kings Men Bible Study Ten Men Of The Bible How God Used (Kings Men Bible Study: Ten Men of the ...) Download Here! Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Samuel took Saul and his attendant, brought them to the banquet hall, and gave them a place at the head of the 30 or so men who had been invited. At the Last Supper Jesus changes the ceremonial banquet of the Jewish Passover into a ritual banquet effectively symbolizing the meaning of his impending death (Mark 14:12-25 and parallels).” 1 Achtemeier, Paul J., Harper’s Bible Dictionary, (San Francisco: Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc.), 1985. Therefore the Jews of the villages, who are dwelling in cities of the villages, are making the fourteenth day of the month of Adar -- joy and banquet, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. Esther 5 New King James Version (NKJV) Esther’s Banquet. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then He told him: “A man was giving a large banquet and invited many. As spoons and knives and forks are a modern invention, and were altogether unknown in the East, the hands alone were necessarily used, and were dipped in the dish, which was common to two of the guests ( John 13:26 ). The Parable of the Banquet 15 When one of those reclining with Him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. YLT, NET. As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. TEN OF OUR LORD’S PARABLES by Francis Dixon Scripture Portion: Matthew 22:1-14. The Greek word for dinner refers to the main meal of the day, but Jesus used the phrase “big dinner” symbolically of the feast or banquet in the kingdom. He probably checked all of food and wine before it was served to the guests. At the time of the three annual festivals at Jerusalem family banquets were common. At the end of this time, the king held a week-long banquet in the garden courtyard of the royal palace for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were present in the fortress of Susa. Cite Share Print BLB Searches. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Often, stumbling blocks and preconceived notions exist that prevent us from offering fair consideration of this holy text. Search Catholic Online for Catholic news, entertainment, information, media, saints, Bible, and prayers. In the parable, a man planned a large banquet and sent out invitations. And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? So he prepared a banquet for them, and they ate and drank. And he maketh a banquet for all his servants. I P 4:3 In the Old Testament banquets are usually (put in a bad light; wonderful; sumptuous; very filling). He freed his provinces from tax payments and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty. They talk about the messianic banquet and who can enter in and eat at the table with the Messiah. A Distinction Giving Rise to a Question: (1) In Matthew 22:4, "I have made ready my dinner," "dinner" in Greek is ariston (compare Luke 11:38). Consider the following scripture passages: • Luke 22:29-30 • And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom. (2) "Banquets" were usually given in the house of the host to specially invited guests (Luke 14:15; John 2:2), but much more freedom was accorded to the uninvited than we of the West are accustomed to, as one finds to be true everywhere in the East today. In reply, Jesus tells the Parable of the Great Banquet. Often, stumbling blocks and preconceived notions exist that prevent us from offering fair consideration of this holy text. Esther 5:5 | View whole chapter | See verse in context Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. The parables of the Embarrassed Guest, the Luncheon for the Poor, and the Slighted Invitation relate to theme 1 of the parables, namely the grace of God. Kings Men Bible Study Ten Men Of The Bible How God Used (Kings Men Bible Study: Ten Men of the ...) Download Here! He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you host a dinner or a banquet, don't invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid. He also said to me, "These are the true words of God.". Each version includes elements of justified… I'm under 18 years old. The parables of the Embarrassed Guest, the Luncheon for the Poor, and the Slighted Invitation relate to theme 1 of the parables, namely the grace of God. In the New Testament we see a reflection of the same fact in 1 Peter 4:3 the King James Version, "We walked in .... excess of wine, banquetings" (Greek "drinkings"; the Revised Version (British and American) "carousings"). 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.4 Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests with them. Esther 7:2 has in the Hebrew "a banquet of wine." In the New Testament to be invited to a banquet is (an honour; a temptation; a free meal; a joy). and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. The master of the banquet, or chief servant, was the man responsible for overseeing the wedding arrangements. When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his house like that of the king. Bible Dictionaries - Easton's Bible Dictionary - Banquet. And the Jews who are in Shushan have been assembled, on the thirteenth day of it, and on the fourteenth of it, even to rest on the fifteenth of it, and to make it a day of banquet and of joy. “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 17 When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’… In all passages the action of eating meat and drinking wine is prominent. Even though they knew the day, they were not told what time of day the banquet would take place. When Abner and 20 men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men. ... Bible stories, Liz & Friends podcast, Kids in Action videos, and more. The New Testament was written in Greek. The guests were first refreshed with water and fragrant oil ( Luke 7:38 ; Mark 7:4 ). In Matthew 22:3,4 "made a marriage feast," is rendered by some simply "a feast," because Greek gamos, "marriage," was used by Septuagint to translate the Hebrew for "feast" in Esther 1:5. The custom of reclining at meals (see MEALS; TRICLINIUM, etc.) The Parable of the Great Banquet (). And his father goeth down unto the woman, and Samson maketh there a banquet, for so the young men do; And Samson saith to them, 'Let me, I pray you, put forth to you a riddle; if ye certainly declare it to me in the seven days of the banquet, and have found it out, then I have given to you thirty linen shirts, and thirty changes of garments; And she weepeth for it the seven days in which their banquet hath been, and it cometh to pass on the seventh day that he declareth it to her, for she hath distressed him; and she declareth the riddle to the sons of her people. 1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2\"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. Comparing Matthew and Luke Matthew 22:1-14 Luke 14:16-24 In both Matthew and Luke, Jesus employs a parable featuring a banquet, invited guests who refused to come, and an angry host who brought in replacement guests from the street. Come to the wedding banquet.’. Its original text was communicated in just three languages: Hebrew, koine or common Greek, and Aramaic. She told him absolutely nothing 2 until morning’s light. (It is a good idea to keep extra Bibles in your classroom so that each student can have a copy of God’s Word in their own hands as the lesson is being taught.) Popularity rankings are based on search volume data from the … as days on which the Jews have rested from their enemies, and the month that hath been turned to them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning to a good day, to make them days of banquet and of joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the needy. “Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. At the Last Supper Jesus changes the ceremonial banquet of the Jewish Passover into a ritual banquet effectively symbolizing the meaning of his impending death (Mark 14:12-25 and parallels).” 1 Achtemeier, Paul J., Harper’s Bible Dictionary, (San Francisco: Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc.), 1985. "banquet" primary search results are listed below along with dictionary aides, FAQs, and Lexiconc. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquet ings, and abominable idolatries: Related Bible … I. In depth inductive Bible study of Jesus' parable of the great banquet in Luke 14:16-24. Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. The parable is straight forward. Salem Media Group. In Ant, V, iv, 2 Josephus supposes Eglon's guards (Judges 3:24) were negligent about noon, "both because of the heat and because their attention was turned to dinner" (ariston). Jesus says that many are invited. Then he sent them back to their master. Why? Though the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is a definite reality in eternity, there is much evidence in the Bible that the Feast of the Lord happens in this life. Perhaps the ariston in this case was preliminary, while the marriage with its accompanying deipnon was after dark; such things are not unheard of today (compare Matthew 26:20 and 1 Corinthians 11:20, "the Lord's deipnon"). Jesus invites all to his messianic banquet. and in every province and province, and in every city and city, the place where the word of the king, even his law, is coming, gladness and joy 'are' to the Jews, a banquet, and a good day; and many of the peoples of the land are becoming Jews, for a fear of the Jews hath fallen upon them. Both words are found in Luke 14:12. The term “messianic banquet” is not found in the Bible, but has been used by modern scholars as a convenient designation for that cluster of imagery in which eschatological salvation is portrayed as a grand banquet, whether or not the Messiah is … 22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". Bible Studies. In-Control/Out-Of-Control Schema. When they're excited I'll serve them their banquet, and make them drunk until they're merry. Bible Dictionaries - Easton's Bible Dictionary - Banquet, Encyclopedias - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Banquet, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? 1 Sam 25:36. Nabal was having a good time 1 and was very intoxicated. These meals were in the days of Christ usually called "suppers," after the custom of the Romans, and were partaken of toward the close of the day. Banquet [N] a feast provided for the entertainment of a company of guests ( Esther 5 ; 7 ; 1 Peter 4:3 ); such as was provided for our Lord by his friends in Bethany ( Matthew 26:6 ; Mark 14:3 ; Compare John 12:2 ). In the days of our Lord the guests reclined at table; but the ancient Israelites sat around low tables, cross-legged, like the modern Orientals. With incredible ingenuity, affection, and scholarship. In the Old Testament and New Testament, banquets and feasts are prominent in sealing friendships, celebrating victories, and for other joyous occasions (Daniel 5:1; Luke 15:22-24).The idea of hospitality ran deep in the thought of those in the Near East (Genesis 18:1-8; Luke 11:5-8).Most banquets were held in the evening after the day's work. Now an opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. It was the custom of the day to issue two invitations to a banquet. But He said to him, ” A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many ; 17 and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘ Come; for everything is ready now.’ … I’ll allow him to explain, 26:6; Mark 14:3; comp. "Supper" (Greek deipnon) is found in Matthew 23:6 and often in the New Testament. Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Banquet [EBD] a feast provided for the entertainment of a company of guests (Esther 5; 7; 1 Pet. If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said. Search the Bible ... Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. The Ancient Hebrew Customs: (1) "Banquet" and "banqueting" in the King James Version always include and stand for wine-drinking, not simply "feast" or "feasting" in our sense. Search Catholic Online for Catholic news, entertainment, information, media, saints, Bible, and prayers. It was the custom of the day to issue two invitations to a banquet. "Banquet" - mentioned in 4 books and occurs 14 times in the Bible (KJV) Catholic Online has many special features to help you find the information you are looking for. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ ... Bible stories, Liz & Friends podcast, Kids in Action videos, and more. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the man in charge of the banquet." Bible topic categories and verse references are from Nave's Topical Bible (1896) by Orville James Nave (1841–1917). Again, he sent out other slaves, and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: Look, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Thus (Song of Solomon 2:4), "He brought me to the banqueting-house" is literally, "the house of wine," and wine was provided, superintend the drinking, etc. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. So the "dinner" (ariston) was sometimes as late as noon. For many, the teachings on this site have helped to open the door to a new world view. (6) The banquet is God’ s provision, in the death of His Son, for hungry, perishing souls. BANQUET ban'-kwet. The Banquet Parables —Luke 14:7-24. 1 Peter 4:3 | View whole chapter | See verse in context For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banqueting s, and abominable idolatries: Definition of BANQUET, BANQUETED, BANQUETER, and BANQUETING from the King James Bible Dictionary Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. (3) The marriage feast of Matthew 22:3 f was an ariston, somewhat like an English "wedding-breakfast"; but that in Luke 14:16 f was a deipnon, which was as usual delayed till after dark (Luke 14:17). Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. Vambery, quoted by Morison, gives a saying of the Turks that is in point: "There are only two meals a day, the smaller at 10 or 11 o'clock in the morning, the second and larger after sunset." on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, even to rest on the fourteenth of it, and to make it a day of banquet and of joy. The hands of the guests were usually cleaned by being rubbed on bread, the crumbs of which fell to the ground, and were the portion for dogs ( Matthew 15:27 ; Luke 16:21 ). (compare Luke 22:27). And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. (1) "Banquet" and "banqueting" in the King James Version always include and stand for wine-drinking, not simply "feast" or "feasting" in our sense. And his sons have gone and made a banquet -- the house of each in his day -- and have sent and called to their three sisters to eat and to drink with them; and it cometh to pass, when they have gone round the days of the banquet, that Job doth send and sanctify them, and hath risen early in the morning, and caused to ascend burnt-offerings -- the number of them all -- for Job said, 'Perhaps my sons have sinned, yet blessed God in their heart.' It is a free banquet. Manners & Customs: Banquets in Easton's Bible Dictionary a feast provided for the entertainment of a company of guests (Esther 5; 7; 1 Pet. Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed. All rights reserved. In A Banquet In The Grave, Ed Welch answers the question: What Does The Bible Say About Addiction? And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. Each will have his own answer. Banquet - There are 24 verses using Banquet in 4 books. The person who is hosting the banquet would send out the invitations. Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. And he presseth on them greatly, and they turn aside unto him, and come in unto his house; and he maketh for them a banquet, and hath baked unleavened things; and they do eat. The Parable of the Wedding Banquet(A) 22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:2 “The kingdom of heaven is like(B)a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.3 He sent his servants(C)to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. See more ideas about parables, parables of jesus, bible crafts. “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Introduction This paper is a portion of the author’s Ph.D. dissertation with the title, “The Messianic Banquet as a Paradigm for Israel—Gentile Salvation in Matthew.”1 What is of interest in the dissertation is what the Gospel of Matthew teaches its Jewish Christian readers about the salvation and inclusion of Gentile Christians into the people of God. Birthday banquets are mentioned ( Genesis 40:20 ; Matthew 14:6 ). Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. The wedding banquet was filled with guests. NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. The Parable of the Banquet 15 When one of those reclining with Him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. The "banquet" Levi gave was in Christ's honor (Luke 5:29). Each will have his own answer. He sent out his slaves to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn’t want to come. You must be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” (16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. So they did. According to Rev. The guests were placed in order according to seniority ( Genesis 43:33 ), or according to the rank they held ( Proverbs 25:6 Proverbs 25:7 ; Matthew 23:6 ; Luke 14:7 ). Then we will spend the 7 year bride week with Him while Daniel’s 70th Week plays out on Earth. Thus much may be said in answer: The ariston (English Versions "dinner") was a meal usually taken about the middle of the forenoon, with variations of earlier or later; the deipnon (English Versions "supper"), the one taken at the close of the day, often after dark. After that no Syrian raiding parties again invaded the land of Israel. The Parable of the Great Banquet or the Wedding Feast or the Marriage of the King's Son is a parable told by Jesus in the New Testament, found in Matthew 22:1–14 and Luke 14:15–24.. 26:6; Mark 14:3; comp. Then I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying high in the sky: "Come, gather around for the great banquet of God. Guests were invited in advance, and then, as time-pieces were scarce, specially notified when the feast was ready, which helps to explain Christ's words (Matthew 22:4), "All things are ready: come to the marriage" (compare Luke 14:17; Esther 5:8; 6:14). 1915. From the parable of the prodigal son to the mountain-moving faith of a mustard seed, gain powerful historical insights and perspective-shifting cultural context behind the parables of Jesus with this 6-session DVD study.Unlike most Bible studies available, each session begins in Israel, making it easier to experience and understand the cultural background of key events. Esther 5:5 | View whole chapter | See verse in context Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. It is a free banquet. The three Banquet Parables are our text for this lesson. "Entry for 'BANQUET'". It's better to attend a funeral than to attend a banquet, for everyone dies eventually, and the living will take this to heart. Consider the following scripture passages: • Luke 22:29-30 • And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom. Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:12-24) 64. 4:3); such as was provided for our Lord by his friends in Bethany (Matt. This is why Welch argues for addiction as disease being largely metaphorical. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.’” Jesus is following up His answer to the Pharisees and chief priests from the previous chapter. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. Thus doth Job all the days. The Greek word for dinner refers to the main meal of the day, but Jesus used the phrase “big dinner” symbolically of the feast or banquet in the kingdom. Catholic Online has many special features to help you find the information you are looking for. As an activity before the Bible … Jesus followed with the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:18-24, partial parallel in Matthew 22:2-14), the point of which was that the Jews (who had been invited to the banquet but made excuses) would be displaced by the Gentiles. The ritual and commensal consumption of wine was an integral part of the oriental banquet. shall they part him among the merchants? King Belshazzar prepared a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in front of them all. They'll sleep forever and won't wake up," declares the LORD. Shall the companions make a banquet of him? (7) The city that was burned (verse 7) is Jerusalem, which was destroyed by Titus in AD 70. Portions were sometimes sent from the table to poorer friends ( Nehemiah 8:10 ; Esther 9:19 Esther 9:22 ). Jesus and His disciples were bidden to one at Cana in Galilee, and accepted the invitation (John 2:2), and wine-drinking was a part of the feast. Proud member
Music, dancing and merriment usually attended all such festivities. The Ancient Hebrew Customs: (1) "Banquet" and "banqueting" in the King James Version always include and stand for wine-drinking, not simply "feast" or "feasting" in our sense. When the man in charge of the banquet tasted the water that had become wine (without knowing where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called for the bridegroom, Then the angel said to me, "Write the following: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!" And Abigail cometh in unto Nabal, and lo, he hath a banquet in his house, like a banquet of the king, and the heart of Nabal is glad within him, and he is drunk unto excess, and she hath not declared to him anything, less or more, till the light of the morning. The question arises, What was the distinction? All the days of the afflicted are evil, And gladness of heart is a perpetual banquet. Compare Amos 6:7 the King James Version, "The banquet of them that stretched themselves," where the reference seems to be to reclining at wine-drinkings. Yet for many, the Bible remains a closed book. Bible topic categories and verse references are from Nave's Topical Bible (1896) by Orville James Nave (1841–1917). Certainly the ancient Hebrews, like other peoples of the ancient East, were very fond of social feasting, and in Christ's day had acquired, from contact with Greeks and Romans, luxurious and bibulous habits, that often carried them to excess in their social feasts. 4:3); such as was provided for our Lord by his friends in Bethany (Matt. BANQUET ban'-kwet. And Abigail cometh in unto Nabal, and lo, he hath a banquet in his house, like a banquet of the king, and the heart of Nabal is glad within him, and he is drunk unto excess, and she hath not declared to him anything, less or more, till the light of the morning. and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? 17 When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’…