Luke 1:23

23 et factum est ut impleti sunt dies officii eius abiit in domum suam

Luke 1:23 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 1:23

And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his
ministration
In the order of the course, which might be three, four, five, or six days, according to the number of the heads of the house of their fathers in the course; (See Gill on Luke 1:5)

were accomplished:
for though he was deaf and dumb, he was not hereby disqualified for service. Deafness and dumbness excused persons from various duties ^F19 but did not disqualify priests: a Levite, if he had lost his voice, was disqualified, but not a priest; ^F20 the reason was this, because it was one part of the work of the Levites to sing, and therefore could not perform it without a voice; but such was the work of the priests, that though deaf and dumb, they could discharge it; as cleansing the altar, trimming the lamps, carrying the parts to the altar, laying them upon it, and burning them, or offering any sacrifice, burning incense which was the business of Zacharias; which when he had fulfilled, he departed to his own house; which was not at Jerusalem, but in the hill country, in a city of Judah there; see ( Luke 1:39 Luke 1:40 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 Misn. Trumot, c. 1. sect. 1, 2. Chagiga, c. 1. sect. 1.
F20 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Cholin, c. 1. sect. 6.

Luke 1:23 In-Context

21 et erat plebs expectans Zacchariam et mirabantur quod tardaret ipse in templo

22 egressus autem non poterat loqui ad illos et cognoverunt quod visionem vidisset in templo et ipse erat innuens illis et permansit mutus

23 et factum est ut impleti sunt dies officii eius abiit in domum suam

24 post hos autem dies concepit Elisabeth uxor eius et occultabat se mensibus quinque dicens

25 quia sic mihi fecit Dominus in diebus quibus respexit auferre obprobrium meum inter homines