Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Meadow
•In
(Genesis 41:2,18) meadow appears to be an Egyptian term meaning some kind of flag or
waterplant, as its use in (Job 8:11) (Authorized Version “flag”) seems to show.
•In (Judges 20:33) the sense of the Hebrew word translated meadow is doubly uncertain. The most
plausible interpretation is that of the Peshito-Syriac, which by a slight difference in the vowel-points
makes the word mearah, “the cave.”
Meah
(a hundred), The tower of, one of the towers of the wall of Jerusalem when rebuilt by Nehemiah,
(Nehemiah 3:1; 12:39) appears to have been situated somewhere at the northeast part of the city,
outside of the walls of Zion.
Meals
Our information on the subject of meals is but scanty. The early Hebrews do not seem to have
given special names to their several meals, for the terms rendered “dine” and “dinner” in the
Authorized Version ((Genesis 43:16; Proverbs 15:17)) are in reality general expressions, which
might more correctly be rendered “eat” and “portion of food.” In the New Testament “dinner” and
“supper,” (Luke 14:12; John 21:12) are more properly “breakfast” and “dinner.” There is some
uncertainty as to the hours at which meals were taken; the Egyptians undoubtedly took their principal
mean at noon, (Genesis 43:16) laborers took a light meal at that time. (Ruth 2:14) comp. ver. Ruth
2:17 The Jews rather followed the custom that prevails among the Bedouins, and made their principal
meal after sunset, and a lighter meal at about 9 or 10 A.M. The old Hebrews were in the habit of
sitting . (Genesis 27:19; Judges 19:6; 1 Samuel 20:5,24; 1 Kings 13:20) The table was in this case
but slightly elevated above the ground, as is still the case in Egypt. As luxury increased, the practice
of sitting was exchanged for that of reclining was the universal custom. As several guests reclined
on the same couch, each overlapped his neighbor, as it were, and rested his head on or near the
breast of the one who lay behind him; he was then said to “lean on the bosom” of his neighbor.
(John 13:23; 21:20) The ordinary arrangement of the couches was in three sides of a square, the
fourth being left open for the servants to bring up the dishes. Some doubt attends the question
whether the females took their meals along with the males. Before commencing the meal the guests
washed their hands. This custom was founded on natural decorum: not only was the hand the
substitute for our knife and for, but the hands of all the guests were dipped into one and the same
dish. Another preliminary step was the grace or blessing, of which we have but one instance in the
Old Testament— (1 Samuel 9:13)—and more than one pronounced by our Lord himself in the new
Testament—Matt 15:36; Luke 9:16; John 6:11 The mode of taking the food differed in no material
point from the modern usages of the East. Generally there was a single dish, into which each guest
dipped his hand. (Matthew 26:23) Occasionally separate portions were served out to each. (Genesis
43:34; Ruth 2:14; 1 Samuel 1:4) A piece of bread was held between the thumb and two fingers of
the right hand, and was dipped either into a bowl of melted grease (in which case it was termed “a
sop,”) (John 13:26) or into the dish of meat, whence a piece was conveyed to the mouth between
the layers of bread. At the conclusion of the meal, grace was again said in conformity with (8:10)
and the hands were again washed. On state occasions more ceremony was used, and the meal was
enlivened in various ways. A sumptuous repast was prepared; the guests were previously invited,
(Esther 5:8; Matthew 22:3) and on the day of the feast a second invitation was issued to those that
were bidden. (Esther 6:14; Proverbs 9:3; Matthew 22:4) The visitors were received with a kiss,
(Luke 7:45) water was furnished for them to wash their feet with, (Luke 7:44) the head, the beard,
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William Smith