John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 6:40
And they sat down in ranks ,.... Or "beds": in such form as little beds are placed in a garden, or as rows of vines in a vineyard, in which form the scholars of the wise men sat in their schools: it is said F7 T. Hieros. Beraeot, fol. 7. 4. Vid. Gloss. in T. Bab. Yebamot, fol. 42. 2. , "R. Eliezer ben Azariah expounded before the wise men in the vineyard (i.e. the university) of Jabneh: though was there a vineyard there? but these are the disciples of the wise men, who are made, or... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 6:39
And he commanded them to make all sit down ,.... Christ ordered his disciples, without any more ado, to cause the whole multitude, men, women, and children, to sit, or lie down, as they used to do at table when about to take a meal: and as they had no table before them, nor beds, or couches to sit, or lie down upon, he directed them to place them by companies upon the green grass ; that there might be some order among them, as at a meal; and that their number might be the more easily... read more