The postures assumed by persons at meals included reclining and sitting. (Ge 18:4; 27:19; Jg 19:6; Lu 9:14) A relief from the palace of Assyrian King Ashurbanipal depicts him as reclining on a couch and his queen as seated on an elevated chair while feasting. Reclining on couches at meals was apparently also a practice among the Persians. (Es 7:8) Tables and couches were used at least by some Israelites in Ezekiel’s time.​—Eze 23:41.

At banquets or large feasts in the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, couches were placed around three sides of a table. This left the fourth side free so that those serving the food could gain access to the table. At times four or five persons occupied one couch, but usually the number was three. Those partaking of the meal usually rested on the left elbow, probably on a cushion, with their heads toward the table. Food was normally taken with the right hand. The place of highest importance on a couch was that occupied by the person having no one behind him. To be in the “bosom position” in relation to someone else reclining at a meal meant being in front of him and would also signify having his favor. (Joh 13:23) The individual having a person in the bosom position could easily carry on a confidential conversation with him.

The customary three positions on each couch indicated that a person had the high, middle, or low position on the couch. When several couches were used, one having the low position on the couch farthest from the host had the lowest position at the meal.​—Compare Mt 23:6; Lu 14:7-11.