Easton: Inn

In the modern sense, unknown in the East. The khans or caravanserais, which correspond to the European inn, are not alluded to in the Old Testament. The “inn” mentioned in Ex. 4:24 was just the halting-place of the caravan. In later times khans were erected for the accommodation of travellers. In Luke 2:7 the word there so rendered denotes a place for loosing the beasts of their burdens. It is rendered “guest-chamber” in Mark 14:14 and Luke 22:11. In Luke 10:34 the word so rendered is different. That inn had an “inn-keeper,” who attended to the wants of travellers.