He brought me to the banqueting house - Literally, the house of wine. The ancients preserved their wine, not in barrels or dark cellars under ground, as we do, but in large pitchers, ranged against the wall in some upper apartment in the house, the place where they kept their most precious effects. We have a proof of this in Homer: -

Ως φαν· ὁ δ' ὑψοραφον θαλομον κατεβησατο πατρος

Ευρυν, ὁθι νητος χρυσος και χαλκος εκειτο,

Εσθης τ' εν χηλοισιν, ἁλις τ' ευωδες ελαιον.

Εν δε πιθοι οινοιο παλαιου ἡδυποτοιο

Εστασαν, ακρητον θειον ποτον εντος εχοντες,

Ἑξειης ποτε τοιχον αρηροτες· ειποτ' Οδυσσευς

Οικαδε νοστησειε, και αλγεα πολλα μογησας.

Κληΐσται δ' επεσαν σανιδες πυκινως αραρυιαι,

Δικλιδες· εν δε γυνη ταμιη νυκτας τε και ημαρ

Εσχ', κ. τ. λ.. Od. lib. ii., ver. 337.

Meantime the lofty rooms the prince surveys,

Where lay the treasures of th' Ithacian race.

Here, ruddy brass and gold refulgent blazed;

continued...

brought

Songs 1:4 Draw me, we will run after you: the king has brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in you...

Songs 5:1 I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey...

Psalm 63:2-5 To see your power and your glory, so as I have seen you in the sanctuary...

Psalm 84:10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God...

John 14:21-23 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father...

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him...

banqueting house

Songs 1:1,4 The song of songs, which is Solomon's...

Esther 7:7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden...

his banner

Songs 6:4 You are beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.

Job 1:10 Have not you made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side?...

Psalm 60:4 You have given a banner to them that fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek...

John 15:9-15 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love...

Romans 5:8-10 But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...

Romans 8:28-39 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose...