Luke 1:23

23 And so it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.

Luke 1:23 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 1:23

And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his
ministration
In the order of the course, which might be three, four, five, or six days, according to the number of the heads of the house of their fathers in the course; (See Gill on Luke 1:5)

were accomplished:
for though he was deaf and dumb, he was not hereby disqualified for service. Deafness and dumbness excused persons from various duties ^F19 but did not disqualify priests: a Levite, if he had lost his voice, was disqualified, but not a priest; ^F20 the reason was this, because it was one part of the work of the Levites to sing, and therefore could not perform it without a voice; but such was the work of the priests, that though deaf and dumb, they could discharge it; as cleansing the altar, trimming the lamps, carrying the parts to the altar, laying them upon it, and burning them, or offering any sacrifice, burning incense which was the business of Zacharias; which when he had fulfilled, he departed to his own house; which was not at Jerusalem, but in the hill country, in a city of Judah there; see ( Luke 1:39 Luke 1:40 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 Misn. Trumot, c. 1. sect. 1, 2. Chagiga, c. 1. sect. 1.
F20 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Cholin, c. 1. sect. 6.

Luke 1:23 In-Context

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.

22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

23 And so it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.

24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

25 "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."