Luke 1:56

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

Luke 1:56 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 1:56

And Mary abode with her about three months
That is, she continued with Elisabeth, as the Syriac and Persic versions express, about the space of three months; in which time, she had full satisfaction of the truth of the sign the angel had given her; namely, of Elisabeth's conception and pregnancy, for by this time she was ready to give birth; and she must now be fully assured, that she was with child herself: this space of three months is a term of time fixed by the Jewish doctors, to know whether a woman is with child or not, as in case of divorce or death: the rule runs thus ^F11;

``every woman that is divorced, or becomes a widow, lo! she may not marry, nor be betrothed, until she waits, (Mwy) (Myevt) , ninety days (i.e. three months), exclusive of the day in which she is divorced, or her husband dies, and of the day in which she is betrothed; that so it may be known whether she is with child or not, in order to distinguish between the seed of the former, and the seed of the second husband.''

And so in the case of marrying the wife of a brother, that died without issue ^F12, and of newly married couples mistaking their spouses ^F13:

and returned to her own house;
at Nazareth, in Galilee; and now it was, that Joseph, to whom she was betrothed, perceived she was with child; and suspecting evil, had a mind to put her away privately; but was informed by an angel of God, in a dream, of the whole matter; and was advised and encouraged to take her to wife, which he accordingly did; see ( Matthew 1:18-20 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Maimon. Hilch. Gerushin, c. 11. sect. 18. Vid. T. Bab. Becorot, fol. 47. 1.
F12 Misn. Yebamot, c. 4. sect. 10. T. Hieros, Yebamot, fol. 6. 1. T. Bab. ib. fol. 34. 2. & 35. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Yebum, c. 1. sect 19. T. Bab. Erubin, fol. 47. 1.
F13 Misn. Yebamot, c. 3. sect. 10.

Luke 1:56 In-Context

54 He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.

55 For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

57 When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son.

58 And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.