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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 4:1-3

We read of Christ's coming into Judea (John 3:22), after he had kept the feast at Jerusalem; and now he left Judea four months before harvest, as is said here (John 4:35); so that it is computed that he staid in Judea about six months, to build upon the foundation John had laid there. We have no particular account of his sermons and miracles there, only in general, John 4:1. I. That he made disciples; he prevailed with many to embrace his doctrine, and to follow him as a teacher come from God.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 4:4-26

We have here an account of the good Christ did in Samaria, when he passed through that country in his way to Galilee. The Samaritans, both in blood and religion, were mongrel Jews, the posterity of those colonies which the king of Assyria planted there after the captivity of the ten tribes, with whom the poor of the land that were left behind, and many other Jews afterwards, incorporated themselves. They worshipped the God of Israel only, to whom they erected a temple on mount Gerizim, in... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 4:1-9

4:1-9 So when the Lord learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although it was not Jesus himself who was in the habit of baptizing but his disciples), he quilted Judaea and went away again to Galilee. Now he had to pass through Samaria. He came to a town of Samaria, called Sychar, which is near the piece of ground which Jacob gave to Joseph, his son, and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, tired from the journey, was sitting by the well... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 4:3

He left Judaea ,.... Where he had been for some time: at the feast of the passover he went up to Jerusalem, and after a short stay there, he came into the country part of Judea, where he tarried longer; and in both about the space of eight months; for it was now but four months to harvest, which began at the passover; see John 2:13 . And now upon thee Pharisees being made acquainted with his success in these parts, he leaves them; not through fear of them, but because he would not irritate... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 4:4

And he must needs go through Samaria. Not the city, but the country of Samaria; for the way to Galilee from Judea, lay through the midst of Samaria; nor was there any other way, without going a great way about; see Luke 9:51 ; and which is also confirmed by Josephus F3 Antiqu. Jud. 50:20. c 5. & in vita sua, p. 1019. : and this accounts for his going through Samaria, consistently with his forbidding his apostles going in the way of the Gentiles, or into any of the cities of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 4:5

Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar ,.... Now called Neapolis F4 Hieron. Epitaph. Paulae, Tom. I. fol. 59. & R. Benjamin Itin. p. 38. ; the same with "Sichem", or "Shechem", as appears from its situation, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph ; see Genesis 33:18 ; and is either the same, only its termination is changed from "em" into "ar", as Achan into Achar, 1 Chronicles 2:7 . Or it is a new name that was given it, and by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 4:6

Now Jacob's well was there ,.... So called, either because it was dug by him; or because he and his family made use of it, when in those parts, as in John 4:12 , though no mention is made of it elsewhere, unless any reference is had to it in the blessing of Joseph, to whom this place belonged, Genesis 49:22 , as Dr. Lightfoot thinks, or in Deuteronomy 33:28 , as Grotius suggests: in the Talmud F6 T. Hieron. Shekalim, fol. 48. 4. T. Bab. Bava Kama, fol. 82. 2. & Menachot, fol.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 4:4

And he must needs go through Samaria - Or, It was necessary for him to pass through Samaria: for this plain reason, and no other, because it was the only proper road. Samaria lay northward of Judea, and between the great sea, Galilee, and Jordan; and there was therefore no going from Galilee to Jerusalem but through this province. See the note on Luke 17:11 . From Jerusalem to Galilee through Samaria, according to Josephus, was three days' journey. See his own life. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 4:5

A city - called Sychar - This city was anciently called Shechem. It seems to have been situated at the foot of Mount Gerizim, in the province of Samaria, on which the temple of the Samaritans was built. After the ruin of Samaria by Salmanezer, Sychar, or Shechem, became the capital of the Samaritans; and it continued so, according to Josephus, Ant. l. xi. c. 8, in the time of Alexander the Great. It was about ten miles from Shiloh, forty from Jerusalem, and fifty-two from Jericho. It... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 4:6

Jacob's well was there - Of this well Mr. Maundrell gives the following account. "About one-third of an hour from Naplosa, the ancient Sychar and Sychem, stood Jacob's well. If it be inquired, whether this be the very place, seeing it may be suspected to stand too remote from Sychar for the women to come and draw water, we may answer - that, in all probability, the city extended farther in former times than it does now, as may be conjectured from some pieces of a very thick wall, the remains... read more

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