Other, and that the hlind men were sitting on the road hetween the two towns. Our Lord might then be truly reported as " going out " of one town, and "coming nigh" to another.
(5.) — Markland thinks that " as he came nigh,** means, *' as he came nigh to Jerusalem," and St. Luke onlj means that Jesus on His journey to Jerusalem was somewhere near or about Jericho, without determining whether He was leaving or enter* ing.
I must frankly confess that none of the above explanations is altogether and completely satisfactory. The third appears to me by far the most probable. The other four seem to be either contradictory to grammar, or to common sense. — I have no doubt whatever that the apparent discrepancy admits of thorough explanation, and is no fair argument against the plenary inspi- ration of Scripture. Some difficulties of this nature we might reasonably expect to find in such a book as the Bible. If we learn nothing else from them, they may teach us humility.
Every one must allow that it is perfectly possible for two independent reporters of an event to differ slightly in their account of its details, without the slightest intention to deceive, and without any departure from truth. Occasional differences on slight points of detail are strong evidences that the Gospel writers are independent witnesses, and that in writing the Gospels they did not copy one another, but were independ- ently guided by the Holy Ghost.
—[What it meant.] This would be rendered more literally, ** What this thing might be."
38. — [Thou Son of David.] This expression is remarkable, be- cause the preceding verse informs us distinctly that the blind man was told that "Jesus of Nazareth" was passing by. To call our Lord the " Son of David" was a sign of faith, and showed that the blind man had some idea that tfesus was the Alessiah. When the Pharisees were asked whose son Christ would be, they replied at once, " The Son of David." Matt. xxii. 42. The fame of our Lord as a mighty worker of miracles, had probably reached the blind man's ears, and made him believe that He who could do such great miracles, must be one sent from God.
41. — [Receive thy sight.] Both here, and in the two following ▼eraes, the Greek word so rendered means literally, " look up," or '^ see again."
42. — [TTiy faith.] This expression seems to indicate very plainly, dial the blind man did not call our Lord, "Son of David," as a mere appellation of dignity, and that he had some vague but real belief that our Lord was the Messiah.
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