SECTION LXXI.
JOHN Chap. XI. from Ver. 17. to the end of the Chapter. Lazarus raised. Caiaphas Prophecieth.
NOw is Christ come up to Bethany. Whether 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 mentioned by Talm. Bab. Pasachin fol. 53. facie 1. [where they speak of the figs of Bethhene, and the dates of Tubni] be the same with this Bethany, we shall not dispute here: Both a Town, and some space of ground about it was called by this name Bethany.
As he had staied in the place where he was when he heard of Lazarus sickness, purposely that he might die before he came to him, that God might be the more glorified by his raising, ver. 15. so did he make sure to stay long enough after he was dead before he came, that the glory might be the more. He had been four days dead, ver. 39. Compare with this these sayings of the Jews. Maym. in Gerushin. per. ult. If one look upon a dead man within three days after his death he may know him, but after three days his visage is changed.
Jerus. in Moed Katon fol. 82. col. 2. Three days the Soul flies about the body as if think∣ing to return to it: but after it sees the visage of the countenance changed, it leaves it and gets it gone.
Upon the miracle wrought, the Jews seek to kill Jesus and Lazarus both: whereupon Jesus goeth to a City called Ephraim, ver. 54. Talm. Bab. in Menachoth fol. 85. fac. 1. Juchne and Mamre [Jannes and Jambres] said to Moses, Dost thou bring straw to Ephraim? Gloss. Ibi. Juchne and Mamre were the chief Sorcerers of Egypt: they when Moses began to do mi∣racles thought he had done them by magick: they said, Dost thou bring straw to Ephraim? Ephraim was a place that exceedingly aboundeth with corn, and darest thou bring Corn thither? meaning, Dost thou bring Sorceries into Egypt that abounds so with Sorceries?
Aruch in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ephraim was a City in the Land of Israel where there was abundance of Corn. Where is the chiefest provision for Offerings? The chiefest for fine Flower are Micmash and Zanoah, and next to them Ephraim in the Vale.
JOHN Chap. XII. from begin. to Ver. 12. A Supper at Bethany: Jesus his feet anointed.
THe connexion of this story to the preceding Chapter, is plainly made by the Evangelist himself: Compare ver. 55. of Chap. 11. and ver. 1. of this.
Though there were a Proclamation out against Jesus for his life, Chap. 11. 57. yet com∣eth he for Jerusalem, and Lazarus at Bethany is not afraid to entertain him. He may well venture his life for him who had received it from him. It was their Sabbath day at night when he had this Supper, a time that they used to have extraordinary cheer. Mary who had anointed his feet before, Luke 7. 38. doth the like again.
There is a groundless and a strange opinion of some, that the Supper in Matth. 26. 6, 7. and Mark 14. 3. was the same with the Supper in John 12. An imagination, that I cannot enough admire at, seeing there are so many things plainly to gainsay it: but the dis∣cussion of it shall be deferred till we come to those Chapters. Only one particular here may not be omitted without observation, and which will make something at present to∣ward the confutation of that opinion, and that is our Saviours answer in the vindication of Maries act, Let her alone, against the day of my burial hath she kept this: or rather, She hath kept it: Not that he meaneth that this anointing of his feet, was her anointing him against his burial, but that she had kept some of this oyntment yet for that purpose here∣after. Judas repined at the expence of the oyntment that she used for the anointing of his feet, and pleaded that it had been better bestowed upon charitable uses for the poor: Why? saith Christ, she hath kept it yet and not spent all, that she may bestow it upon a charitable use, the anointing of my body to its burial. For 1. neither the text doth any whit assert that she spent the whole pound that she brought, nor indeed in reason was so great a quantity needful. 2. It was not so proper to apply it to his burial now, when