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.).
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More