- meals
- Of great importance in Israel: if two strangers met in the desert and shared a meal, an unbreakable bond was established. Often meals were vegetarian, and meat (but only from animals prescribed in Lev. 11 as clean [[➝ clean and unclean]]) could be eaten on special occasions provided that the blood was drained out (Deut. 12:23). Meals were part of celebrations and festivals, especially at the Passover (Deut. 16:1–8), and the laws about food were an essential part of Israelite identity. Banquets are mentioned in the gospels, and it is apparent that a host would issue a preliminary invitation which was followed up by a second when the meal was ready (Luke 14:16–17). Much care was taken to seat guests in accordance with age and rank. Guests reclined round a table, eating by using the right hand. Jesus clearly enjoyed meals with friends and was accused by enemies of over-indulgence (Matt. 11:18–19) but meals with disciples symbolized the kind of fellowship and joy that would obtain in the age to come (Matt. 8:11). The image (cf. Isa. 25:6) of the Messianic banquet (Matt. 22:2; 26:29; Luke 22:30) made every Eucharist a foretaste of it (Acts 2:46).
Dictionary of the Bible.