Verse 18
There are not found that returned ,.... Or it do not appear, that any have returned:
to give glory to God ; for inasmuch as they did not return to give thanks to Christ, and acknowledge him the author of their cure and cleansing they did not give glory to God:
save this stranger ; for so the Samaritans were reckoned by the Jews, even as the Gentile, aliens from the commonwealth, of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise. Christ speaks in the language and dialect of the nation, and yet we find sometimes, that, כותי , "a Cuthite", or a Samaritan, is distinguished from, נכרי , "a stranger", Or a Gentile: they might set up their beasts in the inns of the Samaritans, but not in the inns of "strangers"; and a man might let out his bath to a Samaritan, but not to a "stranger" F2 T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 15. 2. & 21. 2. ; but this must be understood of them in times past, before they were found out to be idolaters; when, as Rabban Simeon ben Gamaliel says F3 T. Hieros Shekalim, fol. 46. 2. , they were as Israelites in all things, and kept the law and the precepts of it, and even more exactly than the Israelites themselves did F4 Maimon. in Misn. Beracot, c. 8. sect. 8. & Bartenora in ib. c. 7. sect. 1. ; but afterwards a Samaritan was reckoned a Gentile, and so he was in the times of Christ; and therefore he calls a Samaritan a stranger: that tradition of the Jews, requires some notice and consideration F5 Misn. Negaim, c. 3. sect. 1. Maimon. Tumaot Tzaraot, c. 9. sect. 1. ; all are defiled
"with leprosies, except הנכרים , "strangers", and the proselyte of the gate.'
And yet here is a stranger among the Jews, and reckoned unclean, on account of leprosy, and sent with them to show himself to the priest.
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