EATING (1) The ancient Hebrews did not eat indifferently with all persons; they would have esteemed themselves polluted and dishonored by eating with those of another religion, or of an odious profession. In Joseph's time they neither ate with the Egyptians nor the Egyptians with them (Gen. xliii :32) ; nor in our Saviour's time, with the Samaritans ( John iv :9). The Jews were scandalized at his eating with publicans and sin ners (Matt. ix :TO.
The Hebrews anciently sat at table, but after wards imitated the Persians and Chaldeans, who reclined on table-beds, or divans, while eating, rest ing the body on the left elbow and using chiefly the right hand. This peculiar position makes the scene described in Luke vii :36-5o perfectly natural, and also shows how one of the guests could repose his head on another's bosom (John xiii :23). Women were never present at Jewish meals as guests.
(2) Time of Principal Meal. The Jews, in Old Testament times, appear to have taken their prin cipal meal at night, after the heat of the day was over. This, to be sure, is largely conjecture, since we have no detailed information given us in the Bible. See Ruth iii :7; Exod. xvi :12: xviii: 12, 13. The institution of the paschal feast in the evening likewise helps to confirm the opinion of God, and to be influenced thereby to activity in his worship and service (Ps. xxii:29). (4) To eat a roll, book, or word is thoroughly to con sider, understand, and be affected by it ( Ezck. in: ; Rev. x:9; Jer. xv:10). (3) I o be eaten up or consumed with zeal is to have our thoughts and cares wholly taken up with a desire for and devot ed to the welfare of the church. and the honor and ( Exod. xii:6, 18). They made their other meal in the morning. In New Testament times they did not ordinarily breakfast und 9 o'clock (Acts ii :is), and on the Sabbath, as Joscphus says, not before noon,becanse not till then was the service of the synagogue completed. In the evening the more substantial meal took place. In general, the Jews led the simple, abstemious life of the modern Oriental, eating the fruits of the earth in the morn ing, and meat only once a day, if at all. But be sides this occasional reference to the ordinary life of the Jews, the Bible contains notices of nu merous feasts in honor of all the events which broke the monotony of their existence. Leaving out of account the religious festivals and the for mal banquets at the ratification of treaties and on other public occasions, we read of feasts given at marriages (Geri. XXIX :22 Judg. xiv No). etc., on
birthdays (Gen. x1:2o; Job i :4), etc., burials (2 Sam iii:33; Jcr. xvi:7), sheep-shearing (t Sam.
xxv :2, 36: :23). (Sec FEAST: FOOD.) (3) Tables. The tables which the Jews ate represented as purifying by washing ( Mark vii :4), arc these kinds of beds (KX(P.50. they cleansed them as if they had been polluted by the recum bence of strangers: unless it were customary, as in point of neatness it ought to be. to wash the tables after every meal, and be fore they received guests again. (See Ant FiguratiVe. (I) To eat tropic or eat their flesh, is cruelly to oppress and destroy them; and to bereave them of all that they enjoy (Ps. xiv :4, Mic. :3; Rev. xvii:16, and xix •181. (2) To eat the flesh and drink the of Christ is with pleasure, appropriation, and desire, to know, believe on, and receive him in his person, incarna tion, righteousness. and benefits, for the spiritual nourishment and life of our souls (John vi:33). (3) To eat and worship is to receive the fulness -ervice of God ( Ps. lxix :9 and cxix :t39). (6) To eat on the left hand, and eat the flesh of one's own arm, is to be reduced to terrible straits of famine, and to destroy what might be useful for their own protection and relief ( I s. ix :2o). The Jew ish priestsdid eat up the sin of God's people: For the sake of their share of the sin-offerings, they gladly received information of scandals, and with pleasure feasted on.and pampered themselves with the sacrifices offered for them ( llos. iv :8). (7) To eat oil the mountains is to partake of the idola trous sacrifices offered in high places (Ezek. xviii: t3). (8) To eat dung and drink one's own water, is to suffer the utmost extremities of famine and misery in the siege of a cite. etc. (Is. xxxvi:12) trut To eat before the I ord was to attend the solemn feasts in his courts (Dent. xii :7). (to) To cat with one is to be familiar with him (1 Cor.
v :11). 1) The lion is called the eater because he kills and feeds on a multitude of animals, and is himself preyed on by none ( Judg. xiv:14)• EBAL (e'bal), (Heb. ay-bawl', to be bare, Stone).
1. One of the sons of Shobal, the son of Seir (Gen. xxxvi:23; t Chron. i:40).
2. Son of Joktan (I Chron. i:22). Some MSS., the Syriac and Arabic versions, read Obal, as in Gen. x:28 (B. C. 1694).