the feet, and sometimes the clothes, were perfumed with ointment, (Psalms 23:5; John 12:3) on
special occasions robes were provided, (Matthew 22:11) and the head was decorated with wreaths.
(Isaiah 28:1) The regulation of the feast was under the superintendence of a special officer, (John
2:8) (Authorized Version “governor of the feast”), whose business it was to taste the food and the
liquors before they were placed on the table, and to settle about the toasts and amusements; he was
generally one of the guests, Ecclus. 32:1,2, and might therefore take part in the conversation. The
places of the guests were settled according to their respective rand, (Genesis 43:33; Mark 12:39)
portions of food were placed before each, (1 Samuel 1:4) the most honored guests receiving either
larger, (Genesis 43:34) or more choice, (1 Samuel 9:24) portions than the rest. The meal was
enlivened with music, singing and dancing, (2 Samuel 19:35) or with riddles, (Judges 14:12) and
amid these entertainments the festival was prolonged for several days. (Esther 1:3,4)
Mearah
(a cave), a place named in (Joshua 13:4) only. The word means in Hebrew a cave, and it is
commonly assumed that the reference is to some remarkable cavern in the neighborhood of Zidon.
Measures
[Weights And Measures AND MEASURES]
Meat
It does not appear that the word “meat” is used in any one instance in the Authorized Version
of either the Old or New Testament in the sense which it now almost exclusively bears of animal
food. The latter is denoted uniformly by “flesh.” The word “meat,” when our English version was
made, meant food in general; or if any particular kind was designated, it referred to meal, flour or
grain. The only real and inconvenient ambiguity caused by the change which has taken place in
the meaning of the word is in the case of the “meat offering.” [Meat Offering OFFERING]
Meat Offering
The law or ceremonial of the meat offering is described in (Leviticus 2:1) ... and Levi 6:14-23
It was to be composed of fine flour, seasoned with salt and mixed with oil and frankincense, but
without leaven; and it was generally accompanied by a drink offering of wine. A portion of it,
including all the frankincense, was to be burnt on the altar as “a memorial;” the rest belonged to
the priest; but the meat offerings offered by the priests themselves were to be wholly burnt. Its
meaning appears to be exactly expressed in the words of David. (1 Chronicles 29:10-14) It will be
seen that this meaning involves neither of the main ideas of sacrifices—the atonement for sin and
self-dedication to God. It takes them for granted, and is based on them. Rather it expresses gratitude
and love to God as the giver of all. Accordingly the meat offering, properly so called, seems always
to have been a subsidiary offering, needing to be introduced by the sin offering which represented
the one idea, and to have formed an appendage to the burnt offering, which represented the other.
The unbloody offerings offered alone did not properly belong to the regular meat offerings; they
were usually substitutes for other offerings. Comp. (Leviticus 5:11; Numbers 5:15) [Meat]
Mebunnai
(building of Jehovah). In this form appears, In one passage only—2Sam 23:27—The name of
one of David’s guard, who is elsewhere called Sibbechai, (2 Samuel 21:18; 1 Chronicles 20:4) or
Sibbecai, (1 Chronicles 11:29; 27:11) in the Authorized Version.
Mecherathite, The
frankie
(Frankie)
#1