097. Table or Scamba

Table or Scamba

(John 13:23) The Hebrews in the time of Christ had adopted the custom of reclining at the table on cushioned divans, resting themselves on the left arm. The tables were in three sections, forming three sides of a square, the seats being placed along the outer sides, - the servant waiting on the inside. Generally, though not invariably, each table held three persons only. The seat of honor was that on the right side of the host, who sat in the center of the cross-table; the honored guest thus reclined, as it were, on the bosom of his host.

John 13:23, "Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved." The general custom then and today is to bring a stool about fourteen inches high into the common sitting-room. On this is placed a tray of metal, usually copper, upon which the food is arranged. The bread is placed on a straw mat beneath the tray, and a cruse of water stands close by, from which all drink as they need. Around this stool and tray the guests gather, sitting on the floor while eating. The dishes are generally stews of rice, cracked wheat (burgul) or beans, with plenty of sauce or soup with it. It is served in a deep dish or large bowl. They double up bits of thin bread, spoon fashion, and dip them into the dish. There is frequent reference to this custom in the Bible. They have neither knives nor forks, and they would not know how to use them. This is a very simple way to live; but they will tell you that is all they desire, and is much more convenient than our custom, and certainly less expensive.

High tables and chairs would be out of place and surely in the way. They do not have separate rooms in which to eat, hence they want a table that can easily be brought in and then removed.

They all eat out of the same dish and say to you, "Why not?" As their meat, when they have any, is always cooked tip into stews, or else cooked until it is ready to fall to pieces, knives and forks are not needed; and when they have chicken or sheep, the flesh is easily torn to pieces with their fingers.

If you are a guest in their home, the polite Oriental will tear tip the best hits and put them into your mouth. I have had this done for me by hands none too clean. Once my hostess placed some bits of meat in her own mouth and evidently found the taste extra fine, so she immediately removed the choice morsel and placed it in my mouth.... Well, you must look pleased and honored. In their own way their cooking is good and their set-out respectable. The poorer people have no table, just a grass mat which they place on the earth floor, all sitting around the mat eating from the common dish.