Visit
Visit (פָּקִד, ἐπισκέπτομαι). Little mention is made in the Bible of ceremonies or complimentary visits of a social character. SEE COURTESY. Guests were welcomed with water to wash their feet (Ge 18:4; Ge 24:32; Jg 19:21; 1Sa 25:41; Lu 7:44, etc.; comp.; Shaw, Travels, p. 208); just as in modern times coffee, tobacco, and frequently other refreshments are offered, and the beard is sometimes sprinkled with perfumed water (Arvielux, 3, 186; Harmer, 2; 77, 83 ; 3, 179). A repast was speedily prepared (Ge 8:4; Jg 19:21; compo Niebluhr, Bed. p. 58; Arvielux, 4, 342), and the guest's animals were provided for (Ge 21:32; Jg 19:21). SEE HOSPITALITY. — Presents are common today in visits (Harmer, 2, 13). SEE GIFT. It was regarded as a sacred duty to visit the sick Siracch; 7:39; Mt 25:36,3), and the Talmudists had the proverb "To neglect to visit the sick is the same as to shed blood" (see Schöttgen, Hor. Heb. 1, 230 sq.); a principle of humanity that was recognised even among the 'heathen (see Kupe, Observ. 1, 129 sq.).
