Tribulation (9λiews). Drißw, to press or squeeze. Tribulation is perhaps as accurate a rendering as is possible, being derived from tribulum, the threshing-roller of the Romans. In both the idea of pressure is dominant, though 9Xîis does not convey the idea of separation (as of corn from husk) which is implied in tribulatio. Trench cites, in illustration of is, pressure, the provision of the old English law, by which those who wilfully refused to plead had heavy weights placed on their breasts, and so were pressed and crushed to death (“ Synonyms of the New Testament "). 23. Understandeth (ovviéis). See on xi. 25, prudent. The three evangelists give three characteristics of the good hearer. Matthew, he understandeth the word; Mark, he receiveth it; Luke, he keepeth it. 24. Put he forth (πaρéInкev). But this would be rather the translation of προβάλλω, from which πρόβλημα, a problem, is derived, while the word here used means rather to set before or offer. Often used of meals, to serve up. Hence, better, Rev., set he before them. See on Luke ix. 16. 25. Sowed (ÉTÉσπЄɩρеv). The preposition éπí, upon, indicates sowing over what was previously sown. Rev., "sowed also." 33. Leaven (Šúμŋ). Wyc., sour dough, as German Sauerteig. From Céw, to boil or seethe, as in fermentation. The English leaven is from the Latin levare, to raise, and appears in the French levain. 35. I will utter (épeúčoμai). The verb, in which the sound corresponds to the sense (ereuxomai), means originally to belch, to disgorge. Homer uses it of the sea surging against the shore ("Iliad," xvii., 265). Pindar of the eruption of Aetna ("Pyth.," i., 40). There seems to lie in the word a sense of full, impassioned utterance, as of a prophet. From the foundation (amò Kaтaßоλns). "It is assumed by (ἀπὸ καταβολῆς). the Psalmist (Ps. lxxviii. 2) that there was a hidden meaning in God's ancient dealings with his people. A typical, archetypical, and prefigurative element ran through the whole. The history of the dealings is one long Old Testament parable. Things long kept secret, and that were hidden indeed in the depths of the divine mind from before the foundation of the world, were involved in these dealings. And hence the evangelist wisely sees, in the parabolic teaching of our Lord, a real culmination. of the older parabolic teaching of the Psalmist. The culmination was divinely intended, and hence the expression that it might be fulfilled" (Morison on Matthew). 43. Shine forth (éxλáμpovσw). The compound verb with ex, forth, is designedly used to express a dissipating of darkness which has hidden: a bursting into light. The righteous shall shine forth as the sun from behind a cloud. The mixture of evil with good in the world obscures the good, and veils the true glory of righteous character. Compare Dan. xii. 3. 47. Net (oayývn). See on Matt. iv. 18. The only occurrence of the word in the New Testament. A long draw-net, the ends of which are carried out and drawn together. Through the transcription of the word into the Latin sagena comes seine. From the fact of its making a great sweep, the Greeks formed a verb from it, σaynvévw, to surround and take with a drag-net. Thus Herodotus (iii., 149) says: "The Persians netted Samos." And again (vi., 31), "Whenever they became masters of an island, the barbarians, in every single instance, netted the inhabitants. Now, the mode in which they practise this netting is the following: Men join hands, so as to form a line across from the north coast to the south, and then march through the island from end to end, and hunt out the inhabitants." Compare Isa. xix. 8: "Those who spread nets on the face of the waters shall languish." Also, Hab. i. 15-17, where the Chaldaean conquests are described under this figure. Gathered of every kind. Compare the graphic passage in Homer ("Odyssey," xxii., 384-389) of the slain suitors in the halls of Ulysses. "He saw that all had fallen in blood and dust, To the salt sea, they lie till the hot sun 48. Sat down. Implying deliberation in the assortment. 52. Which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven. Instructed panteVIeis. Rev., who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom, etc. The kingdom of heaven is personified. The disciples of Christ are disciples of that kingdom of which he is the representative. Which (oσTIs). The pronoun marks the householder as belonging to a class and exhibiting the characteristic of the class: a householder-one of those who bring forth, etc. Bringeth forth (ẻкßáλλe‹). Lit., flingeth forth. See on xii. 35. Indicating his zeal in communicating instruction and the fulness out of which he speaks. CHAPTER XIV. 1. Tetrarch. A ruler of a fourth part. Archelaus had obtained two-fourths of his father's dominions, and Antipas (this Herod) and Philip each one-fourth. The fame (akov). Better as Rev., report. Lit., hearing. 3. Put him in prison (èv þvλaxî ажÉdeто). Lit., " put him away or aside" (dò). This prison was the fortress of Machaerus on the east side of the Dead Sea, almost on a line with Bethlehem, above the gorge which divided the Mountains of Abarim from the range of Pisgah. Perched on an isolated cliff at the end of a narrow ridge, encompassed with deep ravines, was the citadel. At the other end of this ridge Herod built a great wall, with towers two hundred feet high at the corners; and within this inclosure, a magnificent palace, with colonnades, baths, cisterns, arsenals-every provision, in short, for luxury and for defence against siege. The windows commanded a wide and grand prospect, including the Dead Sea, the course of the Jordan, and Jerusalem. In the detached citadel, probably in one of the underground dungeons, remains of which may still be seen, was the prison of John. "We return through what we regard as the ruins of the magnificent castle-palace of Herod, to the highest and strongest part of the defences--the eastern keep or the citadel, on the steep slope, one hundred and fifty yards up. The foundations of the walls all around, to the height of a yard or two above the ground, are still standing. As we clamber over them to examine the interior, we notice how small this keep is: exactly one hundred yards in diameter. There are scarcely any remains of it left. A well of great depth, and a deep, cemented cistern, with the vaulting of the roof still complete, and-of most terrible interest to us--two dungeons, one of them deep down, its sides scarcely broken in, 'with small holes still visible in the masonry where staples of wood and iron had once been fixed!' As we look down into its hot darkness, we shudder in realizing that this terrible keep had, for nigh ten months, been the prison of that son of the free wilderness, the bold herald of the coming kingdom, the humble, earnest, self-denying John the Baptist" (Edersheim, "Life and Times of Jesus"). 6. Birthday (yeveoins). Though some explain it as the anniversary of Herod's accession. The custom of celebrating birthdays by festivities was not approved by the strict Jews; but it is claimed that the Herodian princes adopted the custom. The Roman satirist, Persius, alludes to a festival known as "Herod's Day,” and pictures a banquet on that occasion. "But when Comes Herod's day, and on the steaming panes Sat. v., 180-183. Before (ev τ μéow.) Rev., in the midst. Wyc., leaped in (ἐν τῷ μέσῳ.) the middle. 7. He promised (wμoλóynoev.) Lit., confessed; conveying the idea of acknowledging the obligation of his oath. Salome had degraded herself to perform the part of an almeh or common dancer, and could claim her reward. 8. Being before instructed (πрoßißaoIeîσa). Wyc., monestid, with warned in explanation. Both wrong. Rev., rightly, being put forward. Compare Acts xix. 33, where the right meaning is, they pushed Alexander forward out of the crowd; and not as A. V., drew out. The correct rendering slightly relieves Salome of the charge of wanton cruelty, and throws it wholly upon Herodias. Here (de). She demanded it on the spot, before Herod should have had time to reflect and relent; the more so, as she knew his respect for John (compare was sorry, ver. 9). The circumstances seem to point to Machaerus itself as the scene of the banquet; so that the deed could be quickly done, and the head of the Baptist delivered while the feast was still in progress. In a charger (Ti TivaкI). The Revisers cannot be defended in their retention of this thoroughly obsolete word. A charge is originally a burden; and a charger something loaded. Hence, a dish. Wyc., dish. Tynd., platter. 9. The oath's sake (dià Tous oрkovs). But the A. V. puts the apostrophe in the wrong place. The word is plural, and the Rev. rightly renders for the sake of his oaths. It is implied that Herod in his mad excitement had confirmed his promise with repeated oaths. 11. To the damsel (T Kоpari). Diminutive, the little girl. Luther gives mägdlein, little maid. |