Juan 11:18

18 Y Betania estaba cerca de Jerusalén, como quince estadios

Juan 11:18 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:18

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem
Which was a reason why them were so many of the Jews come there to condole the two sisters upon the death of their brother; and by this means the following miracle became more known there: it was

about fifteen furlongs off;
that is, about two miles, for seven furlongs and a half made a Jewish mile, as appears from one of their canons ^F3, which runs thus:

``they do not spread nets for doves, except it be distant from an habitable place, (oyr Myvlv) , "thirty furlongs";''

which the commentators say ^F4 are "four miles": and still more expressly it is said ^F5, that

``between Jerusalem and Zuck, (the place where the scape goat was had,) there were ten tents, and ninety furlongs, (lym lkl huxmw hebv) "seven and a half to every mile".''

Hence a furlong was called one seventh and a half of a mile ^F6, which was 266 cubits, and two thirds of one.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Misn. Bava Kama, c. 7. sect. 7.
F4 Maimon. Jarchi, & Bartenora in ib.
F5 Misn. Yoma, c. 6. sect. 4.
F6 T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 33. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Rotzeach, c. 13. sect. 6.

Juan 11:18 In-Context

16 Dijo entonces Tomás, el que se dice el Dídimo, a sus condiscípulos: Vamos también nosotros, para que muramos con él

17 Vino pues Jesús, y halló que hacía ya cuatro días que estaba en el sepulcro

18 Y Betania estaba cerca de Jerusalén, como quince estadios

19 y muchos de los judíos habían venido a Marta y a María, a consolarlas de su hermano

20 Entonces Marta, cuando oyó que Jesús venía, salió a recibirle; mas María se estuvo en la casa