Not much is known about the amusements of the ancient Israelites (Zec 8:5). The only children’s game mentioned in the NT is that of imitating the marriage dance and dirges to the music of the flute (Mat 11:16-17; Luk 7:32). Condemned criminals were thrown to the lions in the arena as punishment and sport (1Co 4:9; 1Co 15:32; 2Ti 4:17).
Graphic allusion is made to the Isthmian Games, held every two years on the Isthmus of Corinth (1Co 9:24-27). They were held in honor of the Greek gods and were an occasion for patriotic pride, a passion rather than a pastime, and therefore a fitting image of the sincerity of the Christian’s career. The NT alludes to competition (Act 20:24; Eph 6:12; Phi 3:12-14; 1Ti 6:12; 2Ti 4:7; Heb 12:1-2) and the crown or prize (Col 3: 15; 2Ti 2:5; Jam 1:12; Rev 2:10).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
Although athletic games as such were not a part of life for the ancient Israelites, bravery on the battlefield and physical strength were highly prized. Formal games were important in the Greek and Roman world, and the New Testament makes occasional allusions to them.
The Olympic games were the main national festival of the Greeks. They were celebrated in Olympia every 4 years in honor of the god Zeus. Although they were mainly gymnastic, there were also equestrian and musical competitions. In the second and fourth years of each Olympiad, the Isthmian Games were held in Corinth in a mall dedicated to the god Poseidon. At the end of every first and third year of the Olympiad, the Nemean Games were held in honor of Zeus in the Nemea Valley. Next in importance to the Olympic Games were the Pythian Games which were held in the third year of each Olympiad under Delphi.
In Roman times the number of games increased so much that by the middle of the second century of the Christian era, 135 days of the year were dedicated to games. The priests were the ones who generally directed the games and were paid from the public treasury. While the Greeks favored athletic games, the Romans favored contests involving danger and bloodshed. The Greeks, in particular, disputed the races, the fights and the throwing of the discus and the javelin. Boxing was also a favourite. Chariot races in the arena were popular with the Romans. The maximum circus of Rome accommodated 400,000 spectators. Vast amounts of money changed hands when people bet on the races. A highly successful chariot driver could well amass a fortune.
In gladiatorial combat, prisoners of war and slaves were used for hand-to-hand combat in the arena. Circular stadiums or amphitheaters were designated for gladiatorial combat with wild beasts. The Colosseum in Rome was used for mock battles in which entire armies engaged in mock battles, fights with wild animals were staged, and occasionally the arena was filled with water so that small ships could conduct sea battles before the eyes of the crowd. , which could go up to 87,000.
The Greeks and Romans played ball games and people participated in various games of chance using dice. A game similar to chess was played, in which people moved stones on a board divided into spaces.
Source: Archaeological Biblical Dictionary
Paul alludes to athletic competitions, 1Co 9:24-25, Eph 6:12, Heb 12:1-2. Child’s play, Mat 11:1617, Luke 7:32.
Christian Bible Dictionary
Dr. J. Dominguez
http://bible.com/dictionary/
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
The Israelites played various games. Riddles, for example, were very popular, like the one Samson proposed to his companions (Judges 14: 12-15). J are mentioned. childish. Painting the picture of the happiness and peace that will reign in the messianic age, we are told that “the suckling child will play in the cave of the asp” (Isa 11:8), and in Jerusalem “the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls who will play in them† (Zech 8:5). The Lord Jesus alluded to a j. of the children of his time, “who sit in the squares, and shout to their companions, saying: † We played the flute for you and you did not dance; We mourned you, and you did not mourn” (Matt 11:16-17). The expression “the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play”, which appears in 1Co 10:7, is a quote from Exo 32:6. The word “play” points to orgiastic feasting. The j. of chance are not specifically addressed in the Scriptures. In modern times the rabbis reject its practice if it is for personal gain. If it is for charitable purposes, they approve.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
see, IDOLATRY
vet, The allusions in Gá. 2:2, 7; Phil. 2:16; 3:14 and 2 Tim. 2:5 refer to the athletic meets that the Greeks and Romans were so fond of, and that were introduced by Antiochus Epiphanes and encouraged by the Herods in Palestine. The Hebrews did not know this kind of entertainment and at the time of Christ they were considered profanation by the orthodox Jews. Paul does not seem to regard them as bad per se, but they were repudiated by the Jews mainly because of their connection with festivals dedicated to pagan deities. (See IDOLATRY A.)
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Since the dawn of history, man has shown an interest in distraction and entertainment. Jubal, belonging to the seventh generation from Adam, is said to have been the “founder of all who handle the harp and the pipe”. (Ge 4:21) Over time, especially in the post-Flood period, certain games were invented.
Egypt and Mesopotamia. In widely scattered locations in Egypt, Palestine, and Mesopotamia, archaeologists have unearthed various kinds of boards, chess figures, dice, and other game pieces, some dating to pre-Abrahamic times. A relief from an Egyptian temple door depicts Ramesses III playing a game similar to checkers with one of his concubines. In many games dice were used or sticks were thrown to determine moves.
In Egyptian paintings, in addition to dances and musical instruments, scenes of Egyptian girls juggling several balls at the same time are represented. Other typical games among the youngest were team games, such as, for example, a competition that consisted of pulling a rope. Marbles were also popular.
Israel. There is no direct reference to the games of the Hebrews in the Bible, but there are some indications that there were some forms of recreation besides music, singing, dancing and conversation. Zechariah 8:5 speaks of children playing in public squares, and Job 21:11, 12 mentions the songs and dances of boys. In the days of Jesus, children played to represent happy and sad occasions. (Mt 11:16, 17) On the other hand, excavations in Palestine have uncovered children’s toys, such as rattles and whistles, as well as miniature pots and cars. Job 41:5 may indicate that domesticated birds were kept. Apparently, target shooting with arrows was also practiced, as well as with slingshots. (1Sa 20:20-22, 35-40; Jg 20:16) Proper competitive games, however, appear to have been practiced by the Jews only in the Hellenistic period.
Riddles and guessing games were popular in Israel, as illustrated by Samson’s posing a riddle to the Philistines. (Jg 14:12-14.)
Greece. Around the time that Isaiah began to prophesy in Judah, the Greeks began their famous Olympic athletics competitions in honor of Zeus, in 776 BC. CE Although the games at Olympia remained the most famous, three other Greek cities became important centers of competition. On the isthmus near Corinth, the Isthmian Games, consecrated to Poseidon, were held. At Delphi the Pythian games were played, while the Nemean games, also in honor of Zeus, were held near Nemea.
The Olympic games were held every four years and had a marked religious connotation. Some important features of these games were the religious sacrifices and the worship of the Olympic fire. The Isthmian Games were held every two years near Corinth.
All these competitions basically consisted of foot races, wrestling, boxing, discus and javelin throwing, chariot races and other events. Participants vowed to keep to the rigid ten-month training schedule, which took up most of their time. Said schedule was strictly supervised by judges who lived with the participants. Training was generally done in more difficult conditions than the competition itself: runners put weights on their feet and boxers wore heavy uniforms. It used to take years for an athlete to develop the qualities necessary to win the games. The prize consisted of a simple garland or crown of leaves: wild olive leaves were used in the Olympic games; in the isthmic games, of pine; in the Pythian games, of laurel, and in the Nemean competitions, of wild celery. The prize was displayed at the finish line next to the referee, prompting foot racers to push themselves to the limit while keeping their eyes on the prize. However, those who did not keep the rules were disqualified. The games were the topic of conversation for everyone before, during and after their celebration. The victorious athletes were praised and idolized, presented with many gifts and entertained. In Corinth, a lifetime pension was awarded to winning athletes.
Rome. The Roman games differed greatly from the Greek games in that their main features were gladiator fights and other displays of extreme brutality. Gladiatorial competitions began in the 3rd century BC. CE as a religious service at funerals, and possibly had a close relationship with ancient pagan rites in which worshipers lacerated themselves, letting the blood flow in honor of their gods or their dead. (1Ki 18:28; compare Israel’s prohibition of such practices at Le 19:28.) Later, Roman games were dedicated to the god Saturn. There was nothing that surpassed them in brutality and callousness. On one occasion, the emperor Trajan organized games that included 10,000 gladiators, most of whom fought to death before the end of the show. Even some senators, some “noble” women and an emperor, Commodus, went down to the gladiatorial arena. From the time of Nero, many Christians died horribly in these celebrations.
Pagan games are introduced in Palestine. During the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, in the 2nd century BC. CE, Hellenizing Jews introduced Greek culture and athletic competitions to Israel. As reported…