John 11:18

18 And Bethany was nigh to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off,

John 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.

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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.

John 11:18 In-Context

16 therefore said Thomas, who is called Didymus, to the fellow-disciples, `We may go -- we also, that we may die with him,'

17 Jesus, therefore, having come, found him having been four days already in the tomb.

18 And Bethany was nigh to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off,

19 and many of the Jews had come unto Martha and Mary, that they might comfort them concerning their brother;

20 Martha, therefore, when she heard that Jesus doth come, met him, and Mary kept sitting in the house.