THE RIGHTEOUS CONSIDERETH THE CAUSE OF THE POOR: BUT THE WICKED REGARDETH NOT TO KNOW IT.-Prov. xxix. 7. 12 For in-that-she-hath-poured this ointment on my body," she-did it for my burial προς το ενταφίασαι με. P she-is-come-aforehand πpоeλaße εις τον ενταφιασμον. from her.' 11. ye have the poor always-De. xv. 11, 'For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.-Jesus for our sakes had made himself poor, 2 Co. viii. 9, Ye know the grace,' &c. 8 that Christ is, as to his body, always present on the altar, see his words in addressing the Father after the last supper, xvii. 11, .2, And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be alway with his disciples, Mt. xxviii. 20, § 96, Lo, I am fulfilled.'-With regard to his divinity, however, he is with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.' Mk. xiv. 8. what she could-2 Co. viii. 12, If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.' anoint-The embalming of Jacob is spoken of, Ge. 1. 2, 3; of Joseph, ver. 26; of Asa, 2 Chr. xvi. 14Ointments were prepared for the embalming of Jesus, Mk. xvi. 1, § 93; Lu. xxiii. 56, § 92; xxiv. 1, § 93; Jno. xix. 39, § 92, but it is worthy of notice, NOTES. me ye have not always-Jno. xiii. 33, § 87, p. 373, 'Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.' -In opposition to the notion of the Romish church, Mk. xiv. 6. Why trouble ye her? &c. Why do ye put the woman to pain? A good work. The good work which was to be done soon or never, was preferable to that of which the opportunities were continual.' who love the Lord will not be backward in comforting the poor. Me ye have not always. These words destroy the doctrine of transubstantiation; for if Christ were, as to soul, body, and divinity, truly in the host, the Roman Catholics would have Christ always with them. Mt. xxvi. 12. She did it for my burial. See Jno. xii. 7. 'πpòs Tò Ivт. ixoínoev. 'Evтapiáter signifies to make preparation for burying, by such observances (namely, washing, laying out, anointing, and embalming) as were used previously thereto. The best commentaPRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 7. Ye have the poor, &c. Our Lord was ever mindful of the poor. One evidence of his Messiahship he stated was, to the poor the gospel is preached,' Lu. vii. 22, § 29, p. 223. But there is a time for every thing. Mary chose the proper time to shew her love to the Lord; and in its proper time and place those Jno. xii. 7. When we feel inclined to interfere with others in the disposal of their property for the glory of God, and especially when we are ready to condemn them on account of neglecting our supervision or ministration, let us hear our Lord saying, as unto Judas, 'Let her alone. Let us think of how we shall answer when he asks, as Mt. xxvi. 10, Why trouble ye the woman? Let us ask ourselves, Will the discovery of our motives justify our conduct in being the troublers of Israel? [Mt. xxvi. 10. It is worthy of remark, that the work which our Lord emphatically denominated good, was one for which there was no apostolic authority, but much against it. It was by a Christian woman's testifying, by a liberal use of her temporal means, that Jesus is the Christ. Did our Saviour reprove the woman for not paying some attention to the apostles in performing such an important act? No! but he reproved the apostles for wishing to interfere with the private disciple's liberty of action.] Mk. xiv. 7. Let us ever remember that we have the poor with us always; and that to them we are to 256] shew the kindness we would have shewn to the Lord STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD,-2 Tim. ii. 15. [VOL. II. THE KING THAT FAITHFULLY JUDGETH THE POOR, HIS THRONE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOR EVER.-Prov. xxix. 14. ACTIONS WHICH, THROUGH ENVY AND COVETOUSNESS, MEN DEPRECIATE, GOD TAKES DELIGHT TO DISTINGUISH AND REWARD. MATT. xxvi. 13. 13 Verily I-say unto-you, Wheresoever this gospel shall-be-preached in the whole world κοσμῳ, hath-done,-be-told for a- MARK XIV. 9. Verily I-say unto-you, Wheresoever this 9 throughout eas the whole world κοσμον, (G. 63.)—Particulars of the first day in Passion week, Sunday, the ninth of the Jewish Nisan.*-John xii. 9-11. At Bethany. 9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he-was there: and they-came not forJesus'-sake only, but that they-might-see Lazarus also, whom he-had-raised from the10 dead. But the chief priests consulted that they-might-put-Lazarus also -to-death; 11 because-that by-reason-of d' him many of the Jews went-away inyov, and believed on Jesus. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mt. xxvi. 12. my burial-He had already predicted his sufferings, and his death by crucifixion, ch. xx. 18,.9, § 77, p. 235-He now adds another fact, viz., that he should be buried, a thing very unlikely to take place, as dying the death of a malefactor, it was more likely that he should be cast into Gehenna, where the bodies of criminals were thrown-see on NOTE, ch. v. 22, § 19, p. 125, and ADDENDA, p. 129-Or should his body be cared for by his friends, it was more likely that they would keep it until the third day, waiting the fulfilment of his promise-But so it was, that Joseph of Arimathæa, not before spoken of as a disciple of Jesus, came forward at the very moment required; a fact so remarkable, that it is noticed by the four evangelists, ch. xxvii. 57-60. [Mk. xv. 42-6; Lu. xxiii. 50-.3; Jno. xix. 38-42,] § 92, p. 474. that they were not used; so that the present was the a memorial-Ps. cxii. 6, The righteous shall be in only anointing for the burial which Jesus received-everlasting remembrance.'-Ec. vii. 1, 'A good name comp. Jno. xix. 38-42, § 92; Mk. xvi. 1, 5, 6, § 93; is better than precious ointment;'-2 Co. x. 18, Not Lu. xxiv. 1-6, § ib. he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.'-The freedom which this woman exercised, as expressing her love for the Saviour, without asking leave of any man, although the whole company of apostles may have been present, is worthy of being kept in memory: it is for the when all are to do what they can for spreading advantage of the church in every age, and especially abroad the gospel of the kingdom before the king's return-see the words of the beloved disciple to the little children, when warning against Antichrist, 1 Jno. ii. 20, But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.'-Ver. 27, But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.'-It is only by acting, like Mary, under the power of this anointing, to which Antichrist is opposed, that the gospel can be effectually preached throughout the whole world: Stand made us free,' Gal. v. 1. fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath 13. this gospel-The gospel, or good news of the kingdom, testified by the woman in her anointing of Jesus, whose name is Christ, or Messiah, the Anointed -The preaching of the gospel is itself spoken of as spreading abroad the savour of the knowledge of Christ in every place: with which the whole world is to be filled, as with the odour of the ointment was filled the house where Jesus was now sitting-see on Jno. xii. 3, p. 253, and Mt. xxvi. 7, p. 251. Jno. xii. 9. raised-see ch. xi. 38-44, § 58, p. 131. 10. consulted-see ch. xi. 46-53, § ib., p. 132. NOTES. tors, from Grotius downward, are agreed that pos To has reference, not to the intention of the woman, but rather of Providence.'-Bloomf. Mt. xxvi. 12. It was a good work, inasmuch as it shewed her love and self-denial. Jesus, at the very time that his disciples expected him to assume his regal power, plainly again pointed to his death as first to take place. That which was designed as the anointing of him for the kingdom, he declared was anointing him for his burial. It was the only anointing or embalming his body should have. It was common among the ancients to expend large sums upon anointing and embalming the bodies of their friends. It is said that at the funeral of Herod, five hundred slaves, or freed men, were employed to carry the spices merely. 13. For a memorial of her. Els unμóovvor avṛns, "for her [honourable] remembrance," since μvnμóσvvov, as well as its kindred terms, are almost always meant for praise. It is properly a neuter of the old adjective vnquóovvos, commemorative.'-Bloomf. Jno. xii. 10. The chief priests consulted. The proximity of Bethany to Jerusalem; and the existing impatience of the people to see our Lord and Lazarus, and the prodigious numbers that were present in Jerusalem waiting for the passover, going to and fro, produced in part by the desire of seeing Lazarus, the living witness of his own resurrection, would speedily induce the sanhedrim, whose eyes all along had been fixed upon Jesus, to deliberate on the best mode of removing him also.'-Greswell. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. be diffused in every place, and a preparation made | let us avoid seeking to keep up the importance of our for his glorious return, as the Messiah, the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."] own party by injuring others. [How fearful is the case of that people, who, in place of being persuaded by the most overwhelming evidence to embrace the truth, are only thereby goaded on to greater wickedness! whose priests are more concerned to uphold their own importance, than to hold up the truth of God to the view of the people !] [Soon may there be given the same generous expression of love to the Saviour on the part of the individual members of the church; each doing what he can for the advancement of the truth; each at the same time standing fast in the liberty wherewith. Christ hath made his people free. Then may the gospel be expected to extend throughout all the ramifications of society, and to the utmost bounds of the habitable globe.] Jno. xii. 10. Let us beware of bigotry and priestly intolerance; and, whatever the inducements thereto, *All this day, Jesus continued in Bethany.'-Greswell, Vol. III. Diss. xxxviii. p. 71. LET THE MEMORY OF THE JUST BE BLESSED. VOL. II.] From the history of our Saviour's life, and that more especially as we approach his death, we may well learn the folly of listening to either priests or apostles, in opposition to the truth of God, as taught by Himself. May we each feel our responsibility. [257 WHEREVER A CHRISTIAN IS FOUND, HE WILL BE SEEN DIFFUSING AROUND HIM THE SAVOUR OF A REDEEMER'S NAME. WHO IS HE THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD?-1 John y. 5. ADDEND A. ON THE TIME OF THE ARRIVAL AT BETHANY-AND THE DAY OF THE PROCESSION TO THE TEMPLE.-John xii. 1, p. 253. 'The course of our subject has brought us regularly down to the period when Jesus, having formally made an end of his ministry in Galilee and elsewhere, was about to complete it in Jerusalem also; and at the same time to accomplish the work of human redemption-the proper work which the Father had given him to execute; the final end of his coming into the world: which being over, the period of his leaving the world, and of his returning again to the Father, with whom he was before he assumed flesh, could not be far distant..... The narratives of the first three evangelists, from the time when our Saviour passed through Jericho, to the time of his actual entry into Jerusalem, exhibit no interruption in their continuity... This silence implies only that nothing took place between the arrival at Bethany and the procession, which it might be necessary or expedient for the former gospels to relate; it implies also that the interval in question was short: and both these things. ... were matters of fact. The precise date of the arrival, and the exact measure of the interval between that event and the procession to Jerusalem, could be supplied only by the last. Accordingly, the supplementary relation of that gospel which has been so often exemplified already, is critically illustrated in this instance also: for the notice of time which is wanting in the first three gospels, is found at ch. xii. 1, of the fourth: 'O our Ιησούς πρὸ ἓξ ἡμερῶν τοῦ πάσχα ἦλθεν εἰς Βηθανίαν. ... Now the day of the Jewish passover in the year of our Saviour's passion, I am fully persuaded... was the day upon which he suffered. This being the case, the day of the week on which he suffered was the fourteenth of Nisan, the day of the Jewish passover. But the day of the week on which he suffered was unquestionably the sixth, or Friday. If so, the fourteenth of Nisan, in the year when our Saviour suffered, coincided with Friday; and, consequently, so did the eighth with Saturday. It confirms this conclusion, that the fourteenth of Nisan, U.C. 783, and A.D. 30, the true date of the year of the Passion, coincided with the Julian April 5; and therefore so did the eighth of Nisan with the Julian March 30: the former fell out upon the Friday, and the latter upon the Saturday. If we are right, the true date of our Saviour's arrival at Bethany, U.C. 783, A.D. 30, preparatory to the last passover, was Saturday, March 30, on the corresponding day in the Jewish Nisan. It would sunset, seem, then, at first sight, that he arrived on the ON THE TIME OF THE UNCTION AT BETHANY.-P. 253. Among the circumstances of peculiarity which characterized the unction at Bethany, two only would require any particular illustration: one, the supposed value of the unguent in proportion to its quantity; the other, the peculiarity of the denomination which is given to it. The quantity of the unguent was an alabaster box or vase full, estimated at a pound in weight; the propriety of which estimation is explained by the following passage from Epiphanius (ii. 182, De Mensuris et Ponderibus): 'Αλάβαστρον μύρου βικίον μέν ἐστιν θέλινον, χωροῦν λίτραν ἐλαίου· τὸ δὲ μέτρον ἐστὶ ξέστου τὸ ἥμισυ· ἀλάβαστρον δὲ κέκληται διὰ τὸ εὔθρυπτον. Boxes of this material were especially appropriated for the reception of unguents.... In shape the alabaster vase was round, and tapering from the bottom to the top. . . . . Sometimes the receptacles of unguents were conchs, or shells, if they happened to be naturally set or strung with pearls. (And see NOTES, pp. 253, ..4.) cellent in general, and the trade in unguents was so exclusively confined to Syrian or Phoenician dealers, that, according to Juvenal, Syrophoenix is but another name for an unguentarius, or vender of unguents. Among the Syrians themselves none was more esteemed than the nardine.'-Greswell, Vol. II. Pp. 556, .60. The use of aromata, unguents, or perfumes, among the Jews, was as ancient as the institution of their temple service; but that use was purely religious. ... In other respects it seems to have been chiefly confined to funeral honours, or the last offices about the persons of the dead.... Yet this use of perfumes also was not more peculiar to the Jews than to the rest of the East; and in Seneca's or Pliny's time it odours and unguents along with them. was a regular part of the burial of the dead to burn Upon this usage was founded our Lord's prophetical, and at the same time benevolent interpretation of the act of Mary, when the disciples in general, or Judas in particular, was complaining of The price of the unguent is computed, both in the needless waste of a precious article. Let the St. Mark and in St. John, at three hundred pence, woman alone; why are ye troubling her? She hath denarii, or drachmæ, or at more than that sum; done unto me a becoming deed; against the day of which would amount to between nine and ten pounds my embalment hath she reserved it. The office of English money: that is to say, the unguent was which she had just performed was a good and a provalued at almost one pound per ounce. There can per office, insomuch as it was, or should be, the embe no question, however, that it was of a rich and balment of our Lord's body against his burial. costly description; in which case a pound's weight this was, strictly speaking, the only embalment his of it, as we shall see, might be worth that price or body was to receive; and for that purpose, xarà more. The name of μúpov rápdvor was given to a ovμßeßnxòs, if not per se, it might be said to be inspecies of unguent composed of a variety of sweet tended; and its effect was ultimately reserved: spices besides the nard: Syrian unguents (of which which is the import of the prophetical preterite this was probably one) were reckoned the most ex-reтhрnks, Jno. xii. 7.'-Ib. pp. 577-..9. 258] THIS IS THE TRUE GOD, AND ETERNAL LIFE.-1 John v. 20. [VOL. II. For AND THIS IS THE RECORD, THAT GOD HATH GIVEN TO US ETERNAL LIFE, AND THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON.-1 John v. 11. THE SAINTS IN GLORY EVER DESIRE AND EVER POSSESS GOD SECTION 82.-(G. 64.)—[Lesson 75.]-ON THE SECOND DAY IN PASSION WEEK, MONDAY, THE TENTH OF NISAN, AND FOUR DAYS PREVIOUS TO HIS DEATH, JESUS GOES IN PROCESSION FROM BETHANY TO JERUSALEM, TO APPEAR IN THE TEMPLE.* ALL THE CITY IS MOVED: THE PHARISEES DISPLEASED. GREEKS WISH TO SEE JESUS. JESUS GOES TO BETHANY. Matt. xxi. 1-11, 14—.7. Mark xi. 1-11. Luke xix. 29-44. John xii. 12-36. BETHANY AND JERUSALEM. INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. Jno. xii. 12, .3. The day following that on which Jesus came to Bethany, many who had come to the feast, go out from Jerusalem to meet him, with branches of palm and songs of welcome. Mt. xxi. 1-3. Mk. xi. 1-3. Lu. xix. 29-31. Jesus sends two of his disciples for an ass's colt, telling them - xxi. 4,5. Mt. xxi. 10,.1. Who is this?' Reply of the multitude. The Pharisees complain, that the world is gone after - xxi. 14. Blind and lame come to him in the temple, and are healed. exactly where to find, how to answer when ques-sore displeased' upon seeing his miracles, and hear-xxi. 15, .6. The chief priests and scribes are tioned, and what would result. ing the children crying in the temple, Hosanna,' &c. Jesus points their attention to Ps. viii. 2. xxi. 17. xi. 11. Jesus leaves the city at even-tide. Zec. ix. 9. -xxi. 6. -xi. 4-6. find as Jesus foretold. - xxi. 7. - xi. 7. Fulfilment of xix. 32-.4. The disciples - xix. 35. Jno. xii. 14. Having cast their garments upon the colt, they seat Jesus thereon. Jesus. - xix. 36. - xix. 37, .8. At the descent of the mount of Olives, his praise is declared by the whole multitude of his disciples: they rejoice and praise God because of the mighty works they have seen; and hail the King that cometh in the name of the Lord:' xii. 17, .8. They are joined by those who saw Lazarus raised from the dead; on account of which miracle, many have come forth to meet Jesus. xix. 39, 40. Is requested by some of the Pharisees to rebuke his disciples. His reply. xxi. 9. - xi. 9,10. Jesus declares the judgment of this world; the casting out of the prince thereof. He also predicts the manner of his death, giving it as a sign that he will draw all unto him. -xii. 34. The people begin to get stumbled, and ask what he The song of the multitudes going before, and of means by saying 'The Son of man must be lifted up? those following after: Hosanna,' &c. 12 --xii. 35, .6. Jesus warns them of approaching darkness, and exhorts them to walk in the light while they have the light. As if again telling them that now the things belonging to their peace are being hid from their eyes, he hides himself from them. xxi. 17. - xi. 11. Jesus enters Jerusalem, Jesus goes with the twelve to Bethany, and lodges there. No. 82.-Jesus goes in procession from Bethany to Jerusalem. The people meet him. On-the next-day much people that were-come to the feast, when-they-heard that 13 Jesus was-coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm-trees, and went-forth to meet SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Jno. xii. 13. palm trees-emblematic of victory, and of lasting prosperity. The palm tree grows straight upward; is wide at top; brings forth fruit in old age, and that in abundance: thus it is said, Ps. xcii. 12-5, The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13, Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14, They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15, to shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.'-In Rev. vii. 9, the innumerable multitude, who have come out of great tribulation,' who have followed the Lamb whither soever he goeth," are described as being clothed with white robes,' and as having 'palms in their hands;' NOTES. Jno. xii. 12. Next day. Jesus is supposed to have arrived in Bethany on the evening after the sabbath, and to have remained there during the next day. See ADDENDA, p. 258, supra. 13. Branches of palm trees. It was customary with the Jews, at the feast of tabernacles, to carry about branches of palm and other trees in their hands, and to sing, HOSANNA, 'Save now, I beseech thee,' Ps. exviii. 25. The finest palm trees grew about Jericho and Engedi. Hence Jericho was called the city of palm trees.' The palm has a long and straight body, a spreading top, and an appearance of very great beauty. It produces an agreeable fruit, a pleasant shade, and a kind of honey, little inferior to the honey of bees, and from it was drawn a pleasant wine, much used in the East. On ancient coins the palm tree is often a symbol of Judæa. On coins made after Jerusalem was destroyed, Judæa is represented by a female sitting in a woeping posture under a palm tree. *On the time of the arrival at Bethany, and the day of the procession to the temple,' see ADDENDA, p. 258, supra, and p. 272, infra. VOL. II.] AWAKE UP, MY GLORY;-Psa. lvii. 8. THE SAINT'S APPETITE AUGMENTS THE DELIGHT OF ENJOYMENT. [ 259 OUR MOUTHS MAY AFFECT TO ADORE RELIGION, BUT IT IS OUR LIVES MUST ADORN IT. JOHN xii. 13. him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the-name of-the- Jno. xii. 13. Hosanna-The English of this Hebrew salutation is given in the first two words of Ps. cxviii. 25, p. (27), Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. The whole psalm is beautifully expressive of the same as the palm tree-on which see p. 259. King of Israel-No man had been king of Israel in Jerusalem since the death of Solomon, the son of David-see on the separation of Israel from Judah, 1 Ki. xii. 1-24, &c. The LORD is the king of Israel,' Zep. iii. 15 It was predicted that the son promised to David, 2 Sa. vii. 12-6, should sit upon the throne of his father David,' and reign over the house of Jacob for ever;' Lu. i. 31-3, § 2, p. 10-Nathanael had confessed, Jno. i. 49, § 10, p. 73, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.'-See on ver. 15, infra. that cometh-One of the titles of Messiah-see on John the Baptist's inquiry, Art thou he that should come?' Mt. xi. 3, § 29, p. 222. LUKE xix. 29-34. lxxxi. p. 252.) And it-came-to-pass, 29 (Ch. xix. 28, when he-was-come nigh to Bethphage and Go-ye into the village entering 30 with Moses in the wilderness, the Lord said, Ex. mount of Olives-see Jno. viii. 1, § 55, p. 97, and Lu. 2. a colt, &c.-Kings and princes commonly rode on the ass, or mule, in times of peace; the horse was used more for war-see the description of the war horse, Job xxxix. 19-25-God, in order to keep the people of Israel in a more sensible dependence on himself, forbade them to multiply horses, De. xvii. 16 -David rode on a mule, and ordered Solomon to do so on his coronation-day, 1 Ki. i. 33, .4- Afterward, when Solomon, iv. 26, and succeeding princes, mul tiplied horses, they were rebuked by the prophets, and chastised by God for it-see Isa. ii. 6, 7; xxxi. 1; and Ho. xiv. 3; and the removal of them is spoken of as matter of promise in the days of the Messiah, NOTES. the name of the Lord-Ps. cxviii. 26, Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD:'-Jesus came in the name, that is, with the power and authority, of God, to lay down the law of judgment; and he will come in the power and with the authority of God to execute judgment-see Jno. v. 19-30, § 23, pp. 177, ..8; Mt. xxv. 31-46, § 86, p. 351-Of the angel who was Mt. xxi. 1. Were come to Bethphage. Said to be on the west declivity of mount Olivet; from which it is thought the whole declivity and part of the valley took their names. It was so named from the words beeth, signifying a region as well as a house, and phag, a green fig. The whole mountain was called the mount of Olives, from the olives which it produced; yet it abounded with figs and palms; and according to the variety of these, growing in different parts of the mountain, so various were the names imposed upon those tracts.-See GEOG. NOT., p. 354. [eis Bnepayn. Mk. xi. 1, and Lu. xix. 29, add al Boaviar. We may therefore suppose that the territories of the two villages were contiguous; yet that Bethphage came first in travelling from Jericho to Jerusalem. Hence Calmet and others are wrong in describing Bethphage as being a village between Bethany and Jerusalem. So Epiphan. adv. Hæres. p. 340, cited by Reland, Palæst. 629, testifies that there was an old road to Jerusalem from Jericho through Bethphage and Bethany, and the mount of Olives. Nay, Calmet himself describes Bethany as situated at the foot of the mount of Olives (and so all accounts represent it-see Reland); but from the words, após ro opos r. . being here conjoined with Bnep., it is probable that Bethphage was situated on some part of the lower ridge, or axpwpsia, of the mountain, and Bethany just below it, at the foot of it: and, consequently, it could not be between Bethany and Jerusalem. This is supported by the testimony of Jerome and Origen, the former of whom describes Bethphage as "sacerdotum viculus, situs in monte Oliveti." And the latter, in his Annot., on Matt., says it was situated on mount Olivet.'-Bloomf Mount of Olives. From Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey,' i. e., about a mile. Josephus, speaking of that part of it which was nearest to the city, states the distance to be five furlongs; and in the same place the Roman commander Titus encamped when he was about to begin the siege of the city, which fulfilled the prophecy, ch. xxiv. § 86.-See GEOGRA PHICAL NOTICE, p. 271. Two disciples. Probably Peter and John. 2. Ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt. Asses and mules were in common use in Palestine; horses were PRACTICAL REFLECTION. Lu. xix. 29, 30. Let us be ever ready to acknowledge | he commands, and doing whatever he intimates to be the sovereignty of the King of Israel, by going where his pleasure. MY LIPS SHALL NOT SPEAK WICKEDNESS. NOR MY TONGUE UTTER DECEIT. Job xxvii. 4. 260] TO WHOM HAST THOU UTTERED WORDS?-Job xxvi. 4. VOL. II. |