NOTES TO VOL. I.

N. B. The emendations of the Common Version required by Griesbach, are designated by the initial G.

The reader will probably, consult the Notes in order; therefore, information once given, with regard to any passage which is also applicable to subsequent passages, is neither repeated nor referred to.

Page. Note

CHAPTER I.

13. 1. "Herod"- Herod the Great. Palestine being, at that time, a province of the Roman Empire, Herod was dependent on the Emperor Cesar Augustus Octavianus, who allowed him the title of king.

13. 2.

"Course of Abia" — or Abijah. 1 Chron. xxiv. Compare 2 Chron. viii. 14.

14. 3. "Gabriel," means Man-of-God.

To "stand in

the presence of God," signifies to be favored

of God.

15. 4. A horn of salvation." A horn was an emblem of power, dignity and strength.

16. 5. "All the world"-the whole empire, or perhaps, all the land of Palestine. "Taxed"-registered, for the purpose of taking a census.

18. 6.

"Jesus" the same as Joshua, meaning "a Sa. viour."

18. 7. "Wise men"- Magi from Persia or Arabia.

18.

8. "King of the Jews"-one of the titles of the Messiah.

Messiah.

18. 10. Thou Bethlehem."- Micah. v. 2.

19. 11. "Out of Egypt."- Hos. xi. 1.

20. 12. "In Rama."- Jer. xxxi. 15.

20. 13. "The passover." The three great FEASTS OF THE JEWS were: 1. The Passover, which took place at that full moon which occurred at the vernal equinox, or first after it; or, to the extent perhaps, of two or three days before it. The Passover, or Feast of Unleavened Bread, was designed to commemorate the preservation of the Israelites, when the first born of the Egyptians were destroyed, and at this feast the first fruits of the barley harvest were offered. 2. The Pentecost, or Feast of Weeks, occurred seven weeks, or fifty days after the Passover, and commemorated the giving of the law. At this feast the first fruits of the wheat harvest were offered. 3. The Tabernacles, which occurred near the end of (our) September, or the beginning of (our) October, when the produce of the fields and vineyards had been gathered in. It was observed to commemorate the abode of the sraelites, in tents or tabernacles, in the desert, and also as a thanksgiving for the blessings of the year. Every adult Jew, at least if dwelling in the land, was under obligation to attend at each of these three festivals. Besides the above, there was another considerable festival, mentioned in the Gospels, viz. the Feast of Dedication, held usually in December, in commemoration of the purification of the temple, by Judas Maccabæus. See Ex. xxiii. 14-17; xxxiv. 23. Deut xvi. 16. Helon's Pilgrimage. Jahn's Archæology. Carpenter's Harmony.

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CHAPTER II.

22. 1. "Kingdom of Heaven"

This, and the like phrases, meah, in general, the reign of the Messiah, who, according to the expectation of the Jews, was to be a temporal prince, and their deliverer from the dominion of the Romans. Christ used these expressions, figuratively, with reference to his spiritual dominion over men, and the establishment of his religion in the world.

2. "Esaias." Is. xl. 3,4.

3.

Pharisees and Sadducees". Two great sects among the Jews. They were, in general, rich, haughty and self-righteous. The latter did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.

23. 4. "Abraham to our Father"- The degenerate Jews relied on the letter of the promises made to Abraham and the rigid observance of the ceremonial law, for acceptance with God.

23.

23.

24.

26.

26.

5. "Publicans". Tax-gatherers appointed by the Romans, and therefore odious to the Jews.

6. "Fan "— a winnowing shovel,- used to throw up the corn against the wind, which would blow away the chaff

7. "It is written." The passages from the Old Testament quoted or referred to in this account of the Temptation, are Deut. viii. 3; Ps. xci. 11, 12; Deut. vi. 16, and perhaps Deut. vi. 13.

8. "Elias"

-"that prophet." The Jews thought that Elijah, or (perhaps) one of the prophets, would reappear in person as the forerunner of the Messiah -Mal. iv. 5.

27. 10. "Being interpreted." John wrote for others besides the Jews, he therefore translated Hebrew words, and explained some of the Jewish customs.

Page.Note.

27. 11. "About the tenth hour." It may be well to give here at one view, a brief statement, of the Jewish mode of reckoning time.

The Year, consisted of twelve lunar months,
consisting alternately of twentynine and thirty
days, commencing with the first appearance of
the new moon. An intercalary month was ad-
ded, as often as was necessary, to accommodate
the lunar to the solar year. The civil year be-
gan with the autumnal, and the ecclesiastical,
or sacred year, with the vernal equinox.
The Day, was reckoned from evening to evening.
The Natural Day, from sunrise to sunset, was
divided into six unequal parts. 1. The break
of day, (subdivided afterwards into two parts.)
2. The morning, or sunrise. 3. The heat of
the day, beginning about 9, A. M. 4. Mid-
day. 5. The cool of the day. 6. The even-
ing, (subdivided into two parts.)

At

Hours. The principal were the 3d, 6th and 9th. The day was divided into twelve hours, numbered from the rising of the sun; so that at the season of the equinox the 3d corresponded to our 9th, the 6th to our 12th and so on. other seasons, it is necessary to observe when the sun rises and reduce the hours to our time accordingly. In Palestine, at the Summer Solstice, the sun rises at 5 of our time, and sets about 7. At the Winter Solstice, the sun rises about 7 and sets about 5.

The Night. In the time of Christ the night was divided into four watches. 1. The evening, from twilight to (our) 9 o'clock. 2. Midnight, from 9 to 12. 3. Cock-crowing, from 12 to 3. 4. Early time, (see John xx. 1) from 3 till daybreak. See Jahn's Archæology.

28. 12. "Come out of Nazareth." Nazareth was a small town, the inhabitants of which did not sustain a good character. See Luke iv 16-30.

28. 13. "An Israelite indeed." A descendant of Abraham not merely by birth, but also in character. "Six water-pots"-" purifying"- Urns, or large vessels to contain water, that the guests might wash before eating.

29. 14.

Page. Note.

30.

CHAPTER III.

1. "Sold oxen and sheep, &c.". for the sacrifices. "The changers of money"-those who exchanged the money of the Jews who came from foreign places, into the currency of Judea.

30. 2. "Zeal of thy house."-- Ps. lxix. 9.

30. 3. "Forty and six years was this temple,&c."-Herod the Great commenced rebuilding the temple about sixteen years before the birth of Christ. The main body of the building was completed in nine years and a half; but additions, &c. continued to be made during eighty years from its foundation.

32. 4. "A master of Israel" a teacher.

32. 5. "Moses lifted up the serpent."-Numb. xxi. 8, 9.

CHAPTER IV.

34. 1. "Jacob gave to his son Joseph."—Gen. xlviii. 22. 34. 2. "No dealings with the Samaritans." The Sa

maritans were a mixed people dwelling in the country between Judea and Galilee. Great enmity existed between them and the Jews, occasioned, among other things, by the opposition of the Samaritans to the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem, after the Babylonish captivity, and the erection of a temple on Mount Gerizim. The Samaritans received only the Five Books of Moses; they were, however, looking for the Messiah.

36. 3. "Salvation is of the Jews "-The Messiah is to come of the Jews.

37. 4. "Lift up your eyes "-Pointing, perhaps, as he spoke, to the people coming out of the city.