Feasts

How Nave’s arranged it

• Ancient customs at
• Men alone present atGenesis 40:20Genesis 43:32Genesis 43:341 Samuel 9:22Esther 1:8Esther 1:9Mark 6:21Luke 14:24
• Men and women attend with 32:2,3Exodus 32:6Daniel 5:1–3
• Riddles propounded atJudges 14:12
• Marriage feasts provided by the bridegroomJudges 14:10Judges 14:17
• Guests arranged according to ageGenesis 43:33
• Rank1 Samuel 9:22Luke 14:8–10
• Reclined on couchesAmos 6:4Amos 6:7Luke 7:38John 13:25
• Served in one dishMatthew 26:23
• Were presided over by a master of ceremoniesJohn 2:8John 2:9
• Host servedGenesis 18:8
• Wine served atEsther 5:6Esther 7:7

The passages, in Bible order (96)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 18:8

   Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 18:81 voice

   “An inquiry about his wife, so surprising in strangers, the subject of conversation, and the fulfilment of the fondly cherished promise within a specified time, showed Abraham that he had been entertaining more than ordinary travellers (Heb 13:2).

   Everything gathered on Genesis 18:8→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 26:28–30

   “We can plainly see that the LORD has been with you,” they replied. “We recommend that there should now be an oath between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you

   ›Commentary on Genesis 26:28–301 voice

   “Then Abimelech went to him--As there was a lapse of ninety years between the visit of Abraham and of Isaac, the Abimelech and Phichol spoken of must have been different persons' official titles. Here is another proof of the promise (Ge 12:2) being fulfilled, in an overture of peace being made to him by the king of Gerar.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 26:28–30→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Genesis 40:20

   On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 40:201 voice

   “Pharaoh’s birthday - The distinguishing a birthday by a feast appears from this place to have been a very ancient custom. It probably had its origin from a correct notion of the immortality of the soul, as the commencement of life must appear of great consequence to that person who believed he was to live for ever. St. Matthew (Mat 14:6) mentions Herod’s keeping his birthday; and examples of this kind are frequent to the present time in most nations.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 40:20→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Genesis 43:32

   They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 43:322 voices

   “Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination--The prejudice probably arose from the detestation in which, from the oppressions of the shepherd-kings, the nation held all of that occupation.

   “(1.) He ordered three tables to be spread, one for his brethren, another for the Egyptians that dined with him (for so different were their customs that they did not care to eat together), another for himself, who durst not own himself a Hebrew, and yet would not sit with the Egyptians.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 43:32→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Genesis 43:33

   They were seated before Joseph in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men looked at one another in astonishment.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 43:331 voice

   “Joseph began to make his brothers sit down as if around his [divining] cup; the elder according to his status as elder and the youngest according to his youth.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 43:33→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Genesis 43:34

   When the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 43:342 voices

   “(Verse 32) And they drank, and were intoxicated with it. The idiom of the Hebrew language is to equate drunkenness with satiety, as it says there: 'He shall be satisfied with the abundance of rain, with the produce of his land he shall be intoxicated.' (Psalm 65:11) Undoubtedly, this refers to a land irrigated by rain.

   “Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs - Sir John Chardin observes that “in Persia, Arabia, and the Indies, there are several houses where they place several plates in large salvers, and set one of these before each person, or before two or three, according to the magnificence of each house. This is the method among the Hindoos; the dishes are not placed on the table, but messes are sent to each individual by the master of the feast or by his substitute.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 43:34→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Exodus 23:17

   Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 23:172 voices

   “Three times . . . keep a feast . . . in the year--This was the institution of the great religious festivals--"The feast of unleavened bread," or the passover--"the feast of harvest," or pentecost--"the feast of ingathering," or the feast of tabernacles, which was a memorial of the dwelling in booths in the wilderness, and which was observed in the seventh month (Ex 12:2).

   “All thy males - All that were of competent years, and health and strength, and at their own disposal. 'Tis probable, servants were exempt: for none was to appear without an offering: but most of these had nothing to offer.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 23:17→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Exodus 32:6

   So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 32:61 voice

   “The people sat down to eat and to drink - The burnt-offerings were wholly consumed; the peace-offerings, when the blood bad been poured out, became the food of the priests, etc. When therefore the strictly religious part of these ceremonies was finished, the people sat down to eat of the peace-offerings, and this they did merely as the idolaters, eating and drinking to excess.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 32:6→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Exodus 34:23

   Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 34:231 voice

   “Moses bowed . . . and worshipped--In the East, people bow the head to royalty, and are silent when it passes by, while in the West, they take off their hats and shout.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 34:23→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Exodus 34:24

    For I will drive out the nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God.

    ›Commentary on Exodus 34:242 voices

    “Moses bowed . . . and worshipped--In the East, people bow the head to royalty, and are silent when it passes by, while in the West, they take off their hats and shout.

    “Neither shall any man desire thy land - What a manifest proof was this of the power and particular providence of God! How easy would it have been for the surrounding nations to have taken possession of the whole Israelitish land, with all their fenced cities, when there were none left to protect them but women and children! Was not this a standing proof of the Divine origin of their religion, and a barrier which no deistical mind could possibly surmount!

    Everything gathered on Exodus 34:24→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Leviticus 23:4

    These are the LORD’s appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times.

    ›Commentary on Leviticus 23:42 voices

    “These are the feasts of the Lord - Or rather, the solemnities: (for the day of atonement was a fast:) and so the word is used, Isaiah xxxiii, 20, where Zion is called the city of our solemnities.

    “Divine wisdom was manifested in fixing them at those periods; in winter, when the days were short and the roads broken up, a long journey was impracticable; while in summer the harvest and vintage gave busy employment in the fields. Besides, another reason for the choice of those seasons probably was to counteract the influence of Egyptian associations and habits.

    Everything gathered on Leviticus 23:4→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Leviticus 23:39

    On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the produce of the land, you are to celebrate a feast to the LORD for seven days. There shall be complete rest on the first day and also on the eighth day.

    ›Commentary on Leviticus 23:392 voices

    “While the solid branches were reserved for the construction of the booths, the lighter branches were carried by men, who marched in triumphal procession, singing psalms and crying "Hosanna!" which signifies, "Save, we beseech thee!" (Ps 118:15, 25, 26). It was a season of great rejoicing.

    “This is no addition of a new, but only a repetition of the former injunction, with a more particular explication both of the manner and reason of the feast. The fruit - Not the corn, which was gathered long before, but that of the trees, as vines, olives, and other fruit-trees: which compleated the harvest, whence this is called the feast of in-gathering.

    Everything gathered on Leviticus 23:39→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Leviticus 23:40

    On the first day you are to gather the fruit of majestic trees, the branches of palm trees, and the boughs of leafy trees and of willows of the brook. And you are to rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.

    ›Commentary on Leviticus 23:402 voices

    “While the solid branches were reserved for the construction of the booths, the lighter branches were carried by men, who marched in triumphal procession, singing psalms and crying "Hosanna!" which signifies, "Save, we beseech thee!" (Ps 118:15, 25, 26). It was a season of great rejoicing.

    “Of goodly trees - Namely, olive, myrtle and pine, mentioned, Neh. viii, 15, 16, which were most plentiful there, and which would best preserve their greenness.

    Everything gathered on Leviticus 23:40→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. Numbers 15:3

    and you present an offering made by fire to the LORD from the herd or flock to produce a pleasing aroma to the LORD—either a burnt offering or a sacrifice, for a special vow or freewill offering or appointed feast—

    Verse page →Original language →

15. Numbers 28:18–25

    On the first day there is to be a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work.

    ›Commentary on Numbers 28:18–251 voice

    “A gospel conversation, in gratitude for Christ our passover who was sacrificed, is called the keeping of this feast ( 1 Cor. v. 8 ); for it is not enough that we purge out the leavened bread of malice and wickedness, but we must offer the bread of our God, even the sacrifice of praise, continually, and continue herein unto the end.

    Everything gathered on Numbers 28:18–25→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. Numbers 29:12

    On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work, and you shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days.

    ›Commentary on Numbers 29:122 voices

    “Seven days - Not by abstaining so long from all servile work, but by offering extraordinary sacrifices each day. This was the Feast of Tabernacles. And all the days of their dwelling in booths, they must offer sacrifices.

    “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month - On this day there was to be a solemn assembly, and for seven days sacrifices were to be offered; on the first day thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs. On each succeeding day one bullock less, till on the seventh day there were only seven, making in all seventy. What an expensive service! How should we magnify God for being delivered from it! Yet these were all the taxes they had to pay.

    Everything gathered on Numbers 29:12→

    Verse page →Original language →