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Mar_8:1-10. See on Mat_15:32-39.
ἐν ἐκ . τ . ἡμέρ .] An unessential difference from Matthew, but still a difference.
παμπ . ὄχλου ὄντος ] when very many people were there. The presence of such a crowd is intelligible enough after the miraculous cure that has just been related (in opposition to Holtzmann, p. 85). On εἶναι , equivalent to παρεῖναι , comp. Mar_15:40; Joh_7:39; Dorvill. Charit. p. 600. On πάμπολυς , only found in this place in the N. T., see Wetstein. Comp. Plato, Legg. vii. p. 819 A ( πάμπολυς … ὄχλος ), Polit. p. 291 A; Lucian, Herm. 61.
Mar_8:2. In the nominative ἡμέραι τρεῖς , Hilgenfeld finds an indication of dependence on Mat_15:32. Why not the converse?
Mar_8:3. τινὲς γὰρ κ . τ . λ .] information peculiar to Mark concerning the previous ἐκλυθ . ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ , but still belonging to the words of Jesus: hence ἥκασιν (Lobeck, ad Phryn. p. 744), have come; not: had come (Luther).
Mar_8:4. πόθεν ] With surprise the disciples thus ask, as on the desert surface ( ἐπʼ ἐρημίας ) there is no place whence loaves for their satisfaction were to be obtained.
Mar_8:7. Mark (it is otherwise in Matthew) narrates in this place (otherwise at Mar_6:41) two separate actions in respect of the loaves and the fishes.
According to the reading: καὶ εὐλογήσας αὐτὰ εἶπεν καὶ ταῦτα παρατιθέναι (see the critical remarks), we must translate: and after He had blessed them, He bade set these also before them.
With the small fishes thus, according to Mark, Jesus performs a special consecration (comp. on Mat_14:19), as to which, however, in εὐλογ . there is nothing to be found of itself higher than in εὐχαρ . (Lange: “the pre-celebration of the glorious success”). The thanksgiving of Jesus was a prayer of praise (comp. 1Co_14:16). On εὐλογεῖν , with accusative of the object, comp. Luk_9:16, 1Co_10:16,—in the sense, namely, of uttering over the object a prayer of praise ( áøëä ), blessing it.
Mar_8:8. περισσ . κλασμ . ἑπτὰ σπυρ ., remains left over in pieces seven baskets. The definition of measure is added, according to the Greek usage, in the form of an apposition; Kühner, II. p. 117.
Mar_8:10. Δαλμανουθά , named nowhere else, was doubtless (comp. Mat_15:39) a village or hamlet on the western side of the lake, in the neighbourhood of Magdala (or else Magada; see on Mat_15:39). See Robinson, III. p. 530 f. Ewald, indeed, Gesch. Chr. p. 376 (comp. Lightfoot), conjectures that in Dalmanutha we have the Galilean pronunciation of the name of the town öìîåï , where, according to the Mishna, many Jews dwelt. But comp. on Mat_15:39. The present village Delhemija (Robinson, III. p. 514, 530) lies too far to the south, immediately above the influx of the Hieromax, eastward from the Jordan.
The specification of a better-known place in Matthew betrays itself as later; although Baur thinks, that by such variations Mark probably only wished to give himself a semblance of being independent.