13. His ten servants (déka doúλovs kavтoû). Rev., rightly, changes to ten servants of his, since the his is emphatic; lit., his own. Moreover, it would be absurd to suppose that this nobleman, of consequence enough to be raised to a royal dignity, had but ten servants. The number of slaves in a Roman household was enormous, sometimes reaching hundreds. Toward the end of the Republic, it was considered reprehensible not to have a slave for every sort of work.

Pounds (μvâs.) Minas. Between sixteen and eighteen dollars apiece. Meyer very aptly remarks: "The small sum astonishes us. Compare, on the other hand, the talents (Matt. xxv.). But in Matthew, the Lord transfers to his servant his whole property; here he has only devoted a definite sum of money to the purpose of putting his servants to the proof therewith; and the smallness of the amount corresponds to what is so carefully emphasized in our parable, viz., the relation of faithfulness in the least to its great recompense (ver. 17); which relation is less regarded in the parable in Matthew" ("Commentary on Luke").

Occupy (рayμaтevoаode). The word occupy has lost the sense which it conveyed to the makers of the A. V.—that of using or laying out what is possessed. An occupier formerly meant a trader: Occupy, in the sense of to use, occurs Judges xvi. 11: 66 new ropes that never were occupied; " which Rev. changes to wherewith no work hath been done. Compare the Prayer-Book version of the Psalter, Ps. cvii. 23: "occupy their business in great waters." So Latimer, "Sermons," "He that occupieth usury." Rev., trade ye. Wyc., merchandise ye. Tynd., buy and sell. See on traded, Matt. xxv. 16.

Till I come (ews epxoμai). It is strange that the Rev. follows this reading without comment, while the Revisers' text takes no notice whatever of the reading of four of the leading manuscripts, which is adopted by both Tischendorf and Westcott and Hort; ev & epxopai, "while I come," a condensed form of expression for while I go and return.

15. Had gained by trading (dɩπρаɣμатeúσато). Only here in New Testament. See on ver. 13.

16. Hath gained (πpoσnpyáσaTo). Only here in New Testament. Lit., hath worked besides (pòs) the original sum. Rev., made.

Have thou authority (o ovoíav exwv). Lit., Be thou having authority.

Cities. "A city for a pound, yet not even a cottage could be bought for a pound" (Bengel).

18. Made (émoinσev). See on Matt. xxv. 16.

20. I kept (eixov). The imperfect. I was keeping while thou wert absent.

Napkin (σovdapiw). The Latin sudarium, from sudor, perspiration: a cloth for wiping off the sweat. Trench notes that the napkin which the idle servant does not need for its proper use (Gen. iii. 19) he uses for the wrapping up of his pound.

21. Austere (avστηpòs). From auw, to dry. Dry, and thence hard. See on hard, Matt. xxv. 24.

Sow (čσπeipas). See on strawed, Matt. xxv. 24.

"Didst

22. Thou knewest. To be read interrogatively. thou know that? Then, for that reason, thou shouldst have been the more faithful."

23. Bank (τράπeçav). Lit., the table of the money-changer. Wyc., board. See on exchangers, Matt. xxv. 27.

Usury (TÓK). Better interest, as Rev. See on usury, Matt. xxv. 27.

27. But (πλǹv). Rev., howbeit. However it may be with the unfaithful servant.

Slay (Kaтaσpáğaтe). Only here in New Testament. (κατασφάξατε). strong word: slaughter; cut them down (xará).

A

29-44. Compare Matt. xxi. 1-11; Mark xi. 1-11.

29. Bethphage. See on Matt. xxi. 1.

31. The Lord. See on Matt. xxi. 3.

35. Their garments. More strictly, their own garments (éavTŵv), in their reverence and love for their Lord. See on Matt. xxv. 7.

36. Spread (Vπεσтρúvνvov). Only here in New Testament.

37. The descent. Two distinct sights of Jerusalem are caught on this route, an inequality of ground hiding it for a time after one has first seen it. Verse 37 marks the first sight, verse 41 the second and nearer view (see Introduction, on Luke's topographical accuracy). "At this point (the former) the first view is caught of the southeastern corner of the city. The temple and the more northern portions are hid by the slope of Olivet on the right: what is seen is only Mount Zion, now, for the most part, a rough field, crowned with the mosque of David, and the angle of the western walls, but then covered with houses to its base, and surmounted by the castle of Herod, on the supposed site of the palace of David. . . . It was at this point that the shout of triumph burst forth from the multitude" (Stanley, "Sinai and Palestine").

A

41. He drew nigh. "Again the procession advanced. The road descends a slight declivity, and the glimpse of the city is again withdrawn behind the intervening ridge of Olivet. few moments, and the path mounts again; it climbs a rugged ascent, it reaches a ledge of smooth rock, and in an instant the

.

doubt that this rise and turn of the road was the exact point where the multitude paused again, and He, when he beheld the city, wept over it" (Stanley).

42. Wept (exλavσev). With audible weeping.

43. A trench (xáρaкa). Rev., correctly, as Tynd., a bank. Only here in New Testament. The word literally means a pointed stake, used in fortifying the intrenchments of a camp, and thence the palisade itself. In fortifying a camp or besieging a city, a ditch was dug round the entire circuit, and the earth from it thrown up into a wall, upon which sharp stakes were fixed. Every Roman soldier carried three or four of these stakes on the march. Wyc., with pale.

Keep thee in (ovvéžovov). See on ch. iv. 38.

44. Lay thee even with the ground (édapioûσw). Only here in New Testament. Primarily, to beat level, like a threshing-floor or pavement. The Septuagint uses it in the sense of dashing down to the ground (Ps. cxxxvii. 9, and elsewhere). So Rev., from the succeeding reference to the children, and in allusion to the Psalm.

Visitation. See on 1 Pet. ii. 12.

45-48. Compare Matt. xxi. 12-19; Mark xi. 12–19.

46. Thieves (noTwv). See on Matt. xxvi. 55; Luke x. 30; Mark xi. 17.

48. Were very attentive (eğeρéμато). Only here in New Testament. Lit., as Rev., hung upon him. Tynd., stuck by

him.

CHAPTER XX.

1-8. Compare Matt. xxi. 23-32; Mark xi. 27-33.

5. They reasoned (ovveλoyíoavтo). Only here in New Testament. The preposition, σúv, together, and the additional with themselves, denote a very close conference.

6. Will stone (Kaтaλidáσei). Only here in New Testament. "Stone us down" (Kaтá); i.e., stone us to death.

They be persuaded (πeπeloμévos éσti). Lit., It (the people collectively) is having been persuaded. Denoting a long-standing and settled persuasion.

9-19. Compare Matt. xxi. 33-46; Mark xii. 1-12.

9. Let it out. See on Matt. xxi. 33.

Went into a far country. Not necessarily far, but as Rev., another country. See on Mark xiii. 34.

A long time (ixavoús). See on ch. vii. 6.

10. Of the fruit. See on Mark xii. 2.

11. He sent yet (πρоσédето πÉμfai). Lit., he added to send. A Hebrew form of expression.

12. Wounded (тpavμaтioavтes). Only here and Acts xix. 16.

13. It may be (ows). Only here in New Testament. The adverb of loos, equal. It expresses more than perhaps, implying rather a strong probability. Compare the phrase, it is an even chance that.