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Joh_11:53-54. Οὖν ] In consequence of this word of Caiaphas, which prevailed.
ἵνα ] They held deliberations with one another, in order, etc., Mat_26:4.
παῤῥησ .] frankly and freely, Joh_7:4.
ἐν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ] He withdrew Himself—since those deliberations of the high council, whether through Nicodemus or otherwise, had become known to Him ( οὖν )—from intercourse with His Jewish adversaries, and betook Himself to the sequestered village of Ephraim, according to Eusebius 8 miles, according to Jerome 20 miles (so also Ritter, XV. p. 465, XVI. p. 531 ff.) N.E. from Jerusalem, in Judaea; according to Josephus, Bell. iv. 9. 9, in the neighbourhood of Bethel, comp. 2Ch_13:20 (according to the Keri). It can hardly be the present village of Taiyibeh (see Robinson, II. p. 337 f.), considering its more westerly situation. Hengstenberg identifies it on insufficient grounds with BaalHazor, 2Sa_13:23; and Vaihinger, in Herzog’s Encycl., with òÈôÀøä Jos_18:23. The mention of the desert is not opposed to the north-easterly situation of Ephraim, as Ebrard thinks; for the desert of Judaea (i.e. ἡ ἔρημος κατʼ ἐξοχήν ) extended as far as the region of Jericho.
εἰς τ . χώραν . κ . τ . λ .] He departed into the country (as opposed to Jerusalem, the capital city); then a more precise definition of the place to which He withdrew, namely, the neighbourhood of the desert; and, finally, definite mention of the place, a town named Ephraim. On χώρα , comp. Plat. Legg. v. p. 745 C, vii. p. 817 A; Mar_1:5; Act_26:20; 3Ma_3:1.