Luke 9:8

8 Others were saying that Elijah had appeared. Still others were saying that a prophet of long ago had come back to life.

Luke 9:8 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 9:8

And of some, that Elias had appeared
Who had been translated, body and soul, to heaven, and whom the Jews expected a little before the coming of the Messiah:

and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again;
that is, one of the former prophets. It is well known, that the Jews distinguish the prophets into the former and latter; the books of the prophets of the Old Testament are so distinguished; the writings of the former prophets are those of Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 of Samuel, and the first and second of Kings: the latter prophets are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, which are the greater prophets, and the twelve lesser ones: and in the Talmud ^F17 it is asked,

``who are (Mynwvarh Myaybn) , "the former prophets?" Says R. Huna, they are David, Samuel, and Solomon--and why are they called former prophets? to except (or distinguish) them from Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi, who are the latter.''

So that by one of the old prophets, may be meant one of those that were before the times of Elias, as Samuel or David.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 T. Bab. Sota, fol. 48. 2.

Luke 9:8 In-Context

6 So the Twelve left. They went from village to village. They preached the good news and healed people everywhere.

7 Now Herod, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything that was going on. He was bewildered, because some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead.

8 Others were saying that Elijah had appeared. Still others were saying that a prophet of long ago had come back to life.

9 But Herod said, "I had John's head cut off. So who is it that I hear such things about?" And he tried to see Jesus.

10 The apostles returned. They told Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him. They went off by themselves to a town called Bethsaida.