Jean 11:18

18 Or, Béthanie était environ à quinze stades de Jérusalem.

Jean 11:18 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:18

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem
Which was a reason why them were so many of the Jews come there to condole the two sisters upon the death of their brother; and by this means the following miracle became more known there: it was

about fifteen furlongs off;
that is, about two miles, for seven furlongs and a half made a Jewish mile, as appears from one of their canons F3, which runs thus:

``they do not spread nets for doves, except it be distant from an habitable place, (oyr Myvlv) , "thirty furlongs";''

which the commentators say F4 are "four miles": and still more expressly it is said F5, that

``between Jerusalem and Zuck, (the place where the scape goat was had,) there were ten tents, and ninety furlongs, (lym lkl huxmw hebv) "seven and a half to every mile".''

Hence a furlong was called one seventh and a half of a mile F6, which was 266 cubits, and two thirds of one.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 Misn. Bava Kama, c. 7. sect. 7.
F4 Maimon. Jarchi, & Bartenora in ib.
F5 Misn. Yoma, c. 6. sect. 4.
F6 T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 33. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Rotzeach, c. 13. sect. 6.

Jean 11:18 In-Context

16 Thomas, appelé Didyme (le Jumeau), dit aux autres disciples: Allons, nous aussi, afin de mourir avec lui.
17 Jésus, étant arrivé, trouva Lazare dans le sépulcre déjà depuis quatre jours.
18 Or, Béthanie était environ à quinze stades de Jérusalem.
19 Et plusieurs Juifs étaient venus auprès de Marthe et de Marie, pour les consoler au sujet de leur frère.
20 Quand donc Marthe eut appris que Jésus venait, elle alla au-devant de lui; mais Marie demeurait assise à la maison.
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.