Let us go (6séAJwpev). The preposition ded, through, implies through the intervening space.
Thing (pjya). See on ch. i. 87. The utterance of the shep- herds contains a climax: “ Let us go and see this saying, which has come to pass ; which the Lord made known.”
16. Found (dvedpav). Only here and Acts xxi. 4. *Avd in- dicates the discovery of the facts in succession.
Mary and Joseph and the babe. Each has the article, pointing to the several parties already referred to.
17. They made known. See on ver. 8. These shepherds, having charge of flocks devoted to sacrifice, would presently be in the temple, and would meet those who came to worship and to sacrifice, and so proclaim the Messiah in the temple.
19. Kept (cuvernpes). See on the simple verb tnpéw, on 1 Pet.i. 4. The word signifies not merely to guard, but to keep, as the result of guarding. Hence the compound verb is very expressive : kept, cvv, with or within herself: closely. Note the imperfect tense : was keeping all the while.
Pondered (aupBiAdovea). The present participle, ponder- ing. Lit., bringing together: comparing and weighing facts. Wye., bearing together in her heart. Vulg., conferens. Com- pare Sophocles, “ Oedipus Coloneus,” 1472-4.
272 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. IL
‘OEDIPUS. My children, the heaven-ordained end of life has come upon him who stands here, and there is no avoiding it.
““ANTIGONE. How dost thou know, and with what (fact) having compared (cuuBadrdy) thine opinion hast thou this ?”
22. The days of her purification (ai nLépat TOD KaSapLo pod avrhs). The A. V. follows the reading airs, her: but all the best texts read aidrdy, their; the plural including Joseph with Mary as partaking of the ceremonial defilement. The mother of a child was levitically unclean for forty days after the birth of a son, and for eighty days after the birth of a daughter. Women on this errand commonly rode to the temple on oxen ; that the body of so large a beast between them and the ground might prevent any chance of defilement from passing over a sepulchre on the road. For details, see Edersheim, “ Life and Times of Jesus,” i., 195 ; “The Temple,” p. 302; Geikie, “Life and Words of Christ,” i., 127.
To present him to the Lord. The first-born son of every household must be redeemed of the priest at the price of five shekels of the sanctuary; about two dollars and fifty cents. Num. xviii. 15, 16; Exod. xiii. 2,
23. The law of the Lord. The word daw oceursin this chap- ter five times ; oftener than in all the rest of this Gospel put to- gether. Luke emphasizes the fact that Jesus “ was made under the law ” (Gal. iv. 4), and accordingly elaborates the details of the fulfilment of the law by the parents of both John and Jesus.
24. A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. The offering of the poor. While the lamb would probably cost about one dollar and seventy-five cents, the doves would cost about sixteen cents. She would not bring the creatures them- selves, but would drop the price into one of the thirteen trum- pet-shaped chests in the Court of the Women. Y; oung pigeons : lit., young ones of pigeons (voocovs TeptoTep@v). Wye. has culver-birds ; culver being an old English term for dove. So Spenser :
“More light than culver in the falcon’s fist.”?
Cu. IL] LUKE. 273
25. Devout (eiraBys). Used by Luke only. The kindred word, evAdBeva, godly-fear, occurs twice: Heb. Vena le OO. From ed, well, and Aap Barve, to take hold of. Hence of a cir- cumspect or cautious person who takes hold of things carefully. As applied to morals and religion, it emphasizes the element of circumspection, a cautious, careful observance of divine law; and is thus peculiarly expressive of Old Testament piety, with its minute attention to precept and ceremony. Compare Acts ii. 5.