Mark 6:21, GENESIOIS--plural?

Rod Decker (rdecker@bbc.edu)
Fri, 5 Sep 1997 10:45:56 -0400

Mark 6:21
hOTE HRWDHS TOIS GENESIOIS AUTOU DEIPNON POHSEN ...
(when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday...)

I'm curious re. the plural form GENESIOIS. The dative is usually transl.
temporally here as "on his birthday." Is this plural idiomatic such that it
is best expressed as a singular in English? Or should this be taken as
Herod's birthday celebrations (pl)? If so, is the banquet (DEIPNON) just
one event in the larger celebration? (Moule, Idioms, 43, seems to imply
this with his translation: "*at* his birthday feast" [Herod gave a
banquet].)

Any idea of Roman and/or Jewish customs in this regard?

Thanks,

Rod

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Rodney J. Decker Baptist Bible Seminary
Asst. Prof./NT P O Box 800
rdecker@bbc.edu Clarks Summit PA 18411
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