the Third Week of Advent
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Bible Dictionaries
Gift
Easton's Bible Dictionary
or
The giving of presents entered largely into the affairs of common life in the East. The nature of the presents was as various as were the occasions: food (1 Samuel 9:7; 16:20 ), sheep and cattle (Genesis 32:13-15 ), gold (2 Samuel 18:11 ), jewels (Genesis 24:53 ), furniture, and vessels for eating and drinking (2 Samuel 17:28 ); delicacies, as spices, honey, etc. (1 Kings 10:25; 2 Kings 5 :: 22 ). The mode of presentation was with as much parade as possible: the presents were conveyed by the hands of servants (Judges 3:18 ), or still better, on the backs of beasts of burden (2 Kings 8:9 ). The refusal of a present was regarded as a high indignity; and this constituted the aggravated insult noticed in Matthew 22:11 , the marriage robe having been offered and refused.
These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.
Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Gift'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/g/gift.html. 1897.
