Sent. The Hebrew word means outflow (of waters) ; MIS8V0, probably with reference to the fact that the temple-mount sends forth its spring-waters. Many expositors find a typical significance in the fact of Christ’s working through the pool of this name. Thus Milligan and Moulton, after noting the fact that the water was drawn from this pool for pouring upon the altar during the Feast of Tabernacles ; that it was associated with the “wells of salvation” (Isa. xii. 3); and that the pouring out of the water symbolized the effusion of spiritual blessing in the days of the Messiah, go on to say: “With the most natural interest, therefore, the Evangelist observes that its very name corresponds to the Messiah ; and by pointing out this fact indicates to us what was the object of Jesus in sending the man to these waters. In this, even more distinctly than in the other particulars that we have noted, Jesus, in sending the man away from Him, is keeping Himself before him in everything connected with his cure. Thus, throughout the whole narra- tive, all attention is concentrated on Jesus Himself, who is the
Light of the world, who was ‘sent of God’ to open blind eyes.” See also Westcott and Godet.
8. Blind. The best texts substitute rpocairns, a beggar.
That sat and begged (6 xaInpevos Kal mpocatav). Lit., the one sitting and begging. Denoting something customary.
9. He said (éxeivos). The strong demonstrative throws the man into strong relief as the central figure.
11. To the pool of Siloam. The best texts read simply, Go to Siloam.
Received sight (avé8re Wa). Originally, to look up, as Matt. xiv. 19; Mark xvi. 4, and so some render it here; but better, J recovered sight.
14. It was the Sabbath day when (jv Sé odBBartov Ste). The best texts read, instead of dre when, év 4 juépa on which day. Lit., 26 was a Sabbath on the day on which.
16. Keepeth not the Sabbath. A Rabbinical precept de- clares, “It is forbidden to apply even fasting-spittle to the eyes on the Sabbath.” The words in ver. 14, made the clay, also mark a specific point of offence.
18. The Jews. Notice the change from the Pharisees. The Pharisees had already divided on this miracle (ver. 16) The Jews represent that section which was hostile to Jesus.
Of him that had received his sight (adrod tod avaBrévrav- tos). Properly, “of the very one who had received.”
22. Had agreed—that (cuveréewro—iva). The sense is, had formed an agreement in order to bring about this end, viz., that the confessor of Christ should be excommunicated.
GOSPEL OF JOHN. 185 Confess (ouoroyjon). See on Matt. vii. 23; x. 32.
He should be put out of the synagogue (dmocuvdywryos yévnta). The literal rendering cannot be neatly given, as there is no English adjective corresponding to dmrocuvdywyos, which means eacluded from the synagogue: as nearly as pos- sible—that he should become banished from the synagogue. The adjective occurs only in John’s Gospel—here, xii. 42; xvi. 2. Three kinds of excommunication were recognized, of which only the third was the real cutting off, the other two being dis- ciplinary. The first, and lightest, was called rebuke, and lasted from seven to thirty days. The second was called thrusting out, and lasted for thirty days at least, followed by a “second admonition,” which lasted for thirty days more. This could only be pronounced in an assembly of ten. It was accompanied by curses, and sometimes proclaimed with the blast of the horn. The excommunicated person would not be admitted into any assembly of ten men, nor to public prayer. People would keep at the distance of four cubits from him, as if he were a leper. Stones were to be cast on his coffin when dead, and mourning for him was forbidden. If all else failed, the third, or real ex- communication was pronounced, the duration of which was indefinite. The man was to be as one dead. No intercourse was to be held with him; one must not show him the road, and though he might buy the necessaries of life, it was forbid- den to eat and drink with him. These severer forms appear to have been of later introduction, so that the penalty which the blind man’s parents feared was probably separation from all religious fellowship, and from ordinary intercourse of life for perhaps thirty days.