John Bengel Commentary - John 2:6 - 2:6

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

John Bengel Commentary - John 2:6 - 2:6


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Joh 2:6. Ὑδρίαι) water-pots, rather more broad in shape, than high: for they were lying [κείμεναι]; and they were capacious, long, broad, and deep, out of which draughts might be drawn, Joh 2:8.-κατὰ) for [Engl. Vers., after the manner of].-τῶν Ἰουδαίων, of the Jews) who used to have frequent washings. The Evangelist did not write among the Jews, [as] Joh 2:13; Joh 5:1 [prove].-μετρητάς, metretæ [firkins, three-fourths of the Attic medium, about nine gallons Engl.]) 2Ch 4:5, Septuag. χωροῦσα (בתים) μετρητὰς [baths] πρισχιλίους. Hist. Bel, Joh 2:2, σεμιδάλεως ἀρτάβαι δώδεκα καὶ πρόβατα τεσσαράκοντα καὶ οἴνου μετρηταὶ ἓξ. With these seventy priests were filled, besides women and children. See the same passage, Joh 2:9. Nor is there any doubt but that the remains left over were large. On this analogy the 15 metretæ in Cana could have sufficed for the giving drink to more than 175 men, besides women and children, certainly not fewer; for giving food to whom, 30 artabæ (a Persian measure = 1 medimnus + 2 chœnices) or 1530 chœnices, and 100 sheep, would be needed. I say purposely, on this analogy; and also, presently after, I refer the words, for giving food to whom, to the words, more than 175, not to 175; and thereby the word more itself is much enlarged in its meaning. Comp. 1Es 8:22 (20). Matt. Hostus shows that 12 metretæ (at Frankfort on the Oder) are 7773/5 nossellæ; but that 18 metretæ are 11662/5 nossellæ: thus the mean between for 15 metret145 will be 972 nossellæ.