Luke 1:23

23 And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.

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 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.

22 When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23 And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.

24 After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,

25 “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”