[268] מסבה Discubitus, cujus radix est סבב circumivit, Ambivit.
[269] Philo. Jud. p. 383.
[270] Vetustissimus mos erat, super lanatis pellibus discumbere. Qui poterat pelles addere dives erat. Ovid.
[271] Tremel. in Mat. 26. 20.
[272] Talmud. tract. de Paschate vid. Tremel. loco superius citato.
The parties that gave entertainment at their Feasts were two:[273] 1. The Master of the house. 2. The Master of the Feast; they differed thus: The Master of the house was termed בעל הבית Baal habeth, ὀικοδεσπότης, Pater familias. The Master of the Feast was termed בעל משתה Baal mischte, ἀρχιτρίκλινος, Triclinii Præfectus. The Master of the Feast was the chief servant, attending the Master of the house in time of the Feast. Others[274] add a third sort, whom they would have to be Præfecti morum, in Greek they were termed ὀινόπται. Their Office was thought to have been the inspection of the Guests, that none should disorder themselves by drinking too much; whence they were called ὀφθαλμοὶ the eyes of the Feast. Such kind of Officers were in use in Ahasuerosh his Court, Esth. 1. 8. and likewise among the Athenians;[275] but whether any such belonged unto the Jews is justly doubted.
[273] Vid. Casaubon exercit. p. 278.
[274] Gaudentius Brixianus. vid. Casaubon. ibid.
[275] Athenæus, l. 10.