or of the Evangelist, especially when the siege was approaching. All ought to understand : and, since they were commanded to pray that their flight might not take place on the Sabbath day, why should the Sabbath reader be warned more than others ?
16. TOTS, then) This answers to von, when, in ver. 3. The word "then" often occurs in this discourse. — oi ev rr, 'louiSa/a, those that are in Judea) not all the Jews, nor Christians dwell ing elsewhere ; but those who, believing the word of Jesus, should be in Judea. — (ptvyeTuaav, let them flee) without hope that the siege might be raised. — iitl TO, oprl} into the mountains) Safety was here promised in the mountains : and it was afterwards found there at Pella. See Eusebius II. E. iii. 5. Jesus warns His followers not to think that they would be safe within the city, in opposition to the persuasion pertinaciously maintained during the actual siege by the carnal prudence of the Jews.
17. M?5 ?cara/3a/vsrw, let him not come down) sc. let him come down, not by the inner, but by the outer stairs.1 — apai n, to take anything) e.g. victuals ; corresponding with garments in the next verse.
18. 'EK rOj aypZ, in the field) Husbandmen go lightly clad into the field.
19. Ouai, woe!) This is not put by way of imprecation, but of indication. Neither is it an interdiction against the generating of children, but only a prediction of misery. — rot,?; ev yuarpi e^o-jdais, x.r.X., to them that are with child} etc.) Because they will not be able to flee quickly. Godly women will share the common calamity ; see Luke xxiii. 29.
20. npoatvxs&s, pray ye) Many things are rendered less grievous in answer to the prayers of the righteous. They did pray, and their flight did not take place in the winter. — p/g/^ivo^, winter, or cold and tempestuous weather) Not merely the time of the year, but the state of the weather, seems to be intended by this word ; see ch. xvi. 3.2 The event certainly occurred in
1 The roofs of Jewish houses could be reached either by the inner stair case, which communicated with the interior, or by the outer steps, which led directly to the ground without. — (I. B.)
2 Where the word KSIU.UV is rendered in E. V .foul weather. This signi fication is frequent in classical authors.
The Portuguese word ZHivrwohas the same double force. — (I. B.)