[2460] p t telnion.
[2461] Sanh. 25 b.
[2462] Baba K. 94 b.
[2463] With them herdsmen were conjoined, on account of their frequent temptations to dishonesty, and their wild lives far from ordinances.
[2464] Wünsche is mistaken in making the Gabbai the superior, and the Mokhes the subordinate, tax-collector. See Levy, Neuhebr. Wörterb, iii. p. 116 a.
[2465] Jer. Dem. 23 a; comp. Bekhor. 31 a.
[2466] In B. Kamma x. 2.
[2467] Nedar. iii. 4.
[2468] Jer. Kidd. 66 b.
[2469] Shabb. 78 b.
[2470] Jos. Ant. xiv. 10. 5.
[2471] Comp. Wieseler's Beitr. pp. 75-78. Hence the publicans' were not subordinates, but direct officials of the Government.
[2472] B. Kamma x. 1.
[2473] Baba K. 113 a.
[2474] Bekhor. 31 a.
[2475] Ab. Zar. 13 a.
[2476] Tos. B. Mets. viii. 25, ed. Zuck.
[2477] Jer. Chag. 77 d; comp Jer. Sanh. 23 c, and Sanh. 44 b.
[2478] Ab. Zar. 10 b.
[2479] This is perhaps the better reading of St. Mark ii. 16.
[2480] St. Matt. ix. 14-17.
[2481] The latter in St. Luke v. 31.
[2482] {hebrew}, a very common formula, where further thought and instruction are required. So common, indeed, is it, that it is applied in the sense of let,' such or such thing come and teach' ({hebrew}). Sometimes the formula is varied, as {hebrew}, come and see' (Baba Bath. 10 a), or {hebrew}, go and see' (u. s., b).
[2483] Even in that beautiful page in the Talmud (Succ. 49 b) righteousness and sacrifices are compared, the former being declared the greater; and then righteousness is compared with works of kindness with alms, &c.
[2484] Hos. vi. 6.
[2485] St. Matt. xii. 7.
[2486] Mark the absence of the Article.
[2487] See the note on p. 507.
[2488] St. Matt. x. 2-4; St. Mark iii. 13-19; St. Luke vi. 12-19.
[2489] Vayyik. R. 6; Pesiq, R. 22, ed. Friedm. p. 113 a.
[2490] St. John xix. 25.
[2491] Thus he would be the same as James the Less,' or rather the Little,' a son of Mary, the sister-in-law of the Virgin-Mother.
[2492] As is done in the Rabbinic story where Thaddæus appeals to Ps. c. 1 (superscription) to save his life, while the Rabbis reply by appealing to Ps. l. 23: Whoso offereth praise (thodah) glorifieth Me' (Sanh. 43 a, Chesr. haSh.).
[2493] St. Luke vi. 15; comp. St. John xiv. 22.
[2494] War. iv. 3, 9.
[2495] Euseb. H. E. iii. 11; iv. 22.
[2496] As to the identity of the names Alphaeus and Clopas, comp. Wetzel in the Theol. Stud. u. Krit. for 1883, Heft iii. See also further remarks on the sons of Clopas, in the comment on St. John xix. 25 in Book V. ch. xv.
[2497] Josh. xv. 25.
[2498] As to the designation Boanerges (sons of thunder), see note 2, p. 514. __________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER XVIII. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT - THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND RABBINIC TEACHING. [2499]
(St. Matt. v.-vii.)
It was probably on one of those mountain-ranges, which stretch to the north of Capernaum, that Jesus had spent the night of lonely prayer, which preceded the designation of the twelve to the Apostolate. As the soft spring morning broke, He called up those who had learned to follow Him, and from among them chose the twelve, who were to be His Ambassadors and Representatives. [2500] [2501] But already the early light had guided the eager multitude which, from all parts, had come to the broad level plateau beneath to bring to Him their need of soul or body. To them He now descended with words of comfort and power of healing. But better yet had He to say, and to do for them, and for us all. As they pressed around Him for that touch which brought virtue of healing to all, He retired again to the mountain-height, [2502] and through the clear air of the bright spring day spake, what has ever since been known as the Sermon on the Mount,' from the place where He sat, or as that in the plain' (St. Luke vi. 17), from the place where He had first met the multitude, and which so many must have continued to occupy while He taught.