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Joh_19:13. These speeches penetrate the mind of Pilate, dismayed at the thought of Rome and the emperor. He will now, formally and solemnly, deliver the final sentence, which must be done, not in the praetorium, but outside in the open air (see Josephus, Bell. ii. 9. 3, ii. 14. 8); he therefore causes Jesus to be brought out, and seats himself, taking his place on the judicial seat, at the place which is called Lithostroton, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ] Modal definition of ἐκάθ . εἰς τόπον .
Since τόπος here denotes a definite and distinguished place, the article is as little required as with πόλις , ἀγρός , and the like in such cases. Comp. Mat_27:33; Kühner, II. p. 129.
The place where the tribunal stood, before the praetorium in Jerusalem, bore the Greek name, derived from its Mosaic floor (see Wetstein and Krebs, p. 158 f.) of Λιθόστρωτον , i.e. stone-joining, but in the Aramaic dialect that of âÌáÌÀúÈà , arising from its elevated position; two different names, therefore, derived from different properties[238] of the same place. Further, this place is mentioned neither in Josephus nor in the Rabbins. The name ΓΑΒΒ . is not to be derived from âÌÄáÀòÈä , hill (Hengstenberg), against which would be the double β (comp. Γαβαθᾶ , Josephus, Antt. v. 1. 29, vi. 4. 2), but from âÌÇá , ridge, hump. See generally Fritzsche, Verdienste Tholuck’s, p. 102; Tholuck, Beitr. p. 119 ff.
[238] Ewald attempts to refer Γαββαθᾶ also back to the signification of λιθόστρωτον by assuming a root âáò , but in the signification of ÷áò (Aram.: insert). Too bold an hypothesis. In the LXX. λιθοστρ . (Son_3:10; 2Ch_7:3; Est_1:7) corresponds to the Hebr. øöó .