Cup-Bearer

Official whose primary duty was to taste the wine served to the king as a precaution against poisoning. Cup-bearers frequented the courts of kings and high officials in antiquity (1 Kgs 10:5). These men were close to those in authority and sometimes exercised considerable influence. Generally several of them served the king with the “chief cup-bearer” (butler) at their head (Gn 40:1–23). Solomon’s court included cup-bearers (2 Chr 9:4), and Nehemiah was the king’s cup-bearer (Neh 1:11–2:1); Rabshakeh may have been a cup-bearer (2 Kgs 18:13–19; Is 36:2).