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 ) .