Entertain
Entertainments, “feasts,” were sometimes connected with a public festival (Deut. 16:11, 14), and accompanied by offerings (1 Sam. 9:13), in token of alliances (Gen. 26:30); sometimes in connection with domestic or social events, as at the weaning of children (Gen. 21:8), at weddings (Gen. 29:22; John 2:1), on birth-days (Matt. 14:6), at the time of sheep-shearing (2 Sam. 13:23), and of vintage (Judg. 9:27), and at funerals (2 Sam. 3:35; Jer. 16:7).
The guests were invited by servants (Prov. 9:3; Matt. 22:3), who assigned them their respective places (1 Sam. 9:22; Luke 14:8; Mark 12:39). Like portions were sent by the master to each guest (1 Sam. 1:4; 2 Sam. 6:19), except when special honour was intended, when the portion was increased (Gen. 43:34).
The Israelites were forbidden to attend heathenish sacrificial entertainments (Ex. 34:15), because these were in honour of false gods, and because at such feast they would be liable to partake of unclean flesh (1 Cor. 10:28).
In the entertainments common in apostolic times among the Gentiles were frequent “revellings,” against which Christians were warned (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Pet. 4:3). (See BANQUET
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Entertain
signifies (a) “to receive as a guest” (xenos, “a guest”) rendered “entertained” in Act 28:7, RV, for AV, “lodged;” in Heb 13:2, “have entertained;” (b) “to be astonished by the strangeness of a thing,” Act 17:20; 1Pe 4:4, 1Pe 4:12. See LODGE, STRANGE (think).
Note: In Heb 13:2 (first part), philoxenia, lit., “love of strangers” (phileo, “to love,” and xenos, “a stranger or guest”), is translated “to show love to,” RV, for AV, “entertain.” See HOSPITALITY.