John Bengel Commentary - Matthew 21:9 - 21:9

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John Bengel Commentary - Matthew 21:9 - 21:9


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Mat 21:9.[913] Ὡσαννὰ, Hosanna) i.e. הושיעה נא, Save, I pray. The LXX. render Psalms 118(117):25-Ὦ ΚΎΡΙΕ ΣῶΣΟΝ ΔΉ· Ὦ ΚΎΡΙΕ ΕὐΌΔΩΣΟΝ ΔΉ)-O Lord, do save: O Lord, do give prosperity. The words, Ἰησοῦς, (Jesus) in Mat 21:11, נושע (having salvation) in Zec 9:9, and ὡσαννὰ, in the present verse, are all cognate terms.-τῷ, κ.τ.λ., to the, etc.) We sing Hosanna, say they (as was foretold by the prophets), to the Son of David. Agreeable to the account given by the Evangelists of our Lord’s entry, is that which Isidore Clarius says that he heard from a certain Jew, viz., that these words, “Hosanna! Blessed is He that cometh,” etc., were customarily said by the priests, when victims were offered for sacrifice. And the formula, Hosanna, was so frequently uttered, that they even gave that name to the branches which were carried about on the Feast of Tabernacles.[914]-εὑλογημένος, κ.τ.λ., blessed, etc.) Thus the LXX. in Psalms 118(117):26, which psalm formed part of the Hallel, or Paschal hymn, which they would have to recite in a few days’ time.-ἐν ὀνόματι, in the name) These words should be construed with εὐλογημένος, (blessed), according to the Hebrew accents.[915]-ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις, in the highest) Succour [us], O Thou who art in the highest.

[913] οἱ προάγοντες-ἀκολουθοῦντες, that went before-and that followed) Of whom the former had gone from the city to meet Him; the latter had gathered themselves together to Jesus, either at Jericho or elsewhere, as He was passing along.-V. g.

[914] Hartwell Horne says on this subject: “During the continuance of this feast, they carried in their hands branches of palm trees, olives, citrons, myrtles, and willows (Lev 23:40; Neh 8:15; 2Ma 10:7); singing, Hosanna, save I beseech thee (Psa 118:25); in which words they prayed for the coming of the Messiah. These branches also bore the name of Hosanna, as well as all the days of the Feast. In the same manner was Jesus Christ conducted into Jerusalem by the believing Jews, who, considering Him to be the promised Messiah, expressed their boundless joy at finding in Him the accomplishment of those petitions which they had so often offered to God for His coming, at the Feast of Tabernacles. (Mat 21:8-9.) During its continuance, they walked in procession round the altar with the above-mentioned branches in their hands, amid the sound of trumpets, singing Hosanna; and on the last, or seventh day of the Feast, they compassed the altar seven times. This was called the Great Hosanna. To this last ceremony St John probably alludes in Rev 7:9-10, where he describes the saints as standing before the Throne, “clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and saying, Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”-(I. B.)

[915] i.e. Bengel would render it, “Blessed in the name of the Lord, etc.” In a note to his German Version, he says, “That is, Let him, who cometh here, he in the name of the LORD blessed” For some account of the Hebrew Accents, see p. 132, f.n. 5.-(I. B.)

But Engl. Ver., “Cometh in the name of the Lord:” joining ἐν ὀνόματι, with ἑρχόμενος.-ED.