Matthew 26:36

Matthew 26:36. Unto a place called Gethsemane— Reland thinks Gethsemane was a particular spot in the mount of Olives. But its situation, like that of some other places mentioned in the Gospel, has been settled by considering the description of a particularEvangelistonly,withoutcomparingtheiraccountstogether.FromJohn,xiv. 31 it appears, that Jesus went out with his disciples immediately after he had pronounced the consolatory discourse; for at the conclusion of it he said to them, Arise, let us go hence: and considering the subject of the next sermon, I am the true vine, &c. it is probable he was in the mount of Olives, among the vines, when he spake that parable, it being his manner to preach from such subjects as were at hand. Here also he delivered the discourse and prayer recorded John 16:0; John 17:0. Accordingly, when he prayed, Joh 17:1 it is said, he lifted up his eyes to heaven; a circumstance which seems to imply, that he was then in the open air. His coming down from the mount of Olives is expressed indeed by the word εξηλθε, Joh 18:1 which has led most readers to imagine, that bysome accident or other they were hindered from leaving the house till then, notwithstanding Jesus had ordered them to arise and go away with him: the answer is, that εξηλθε, being a general term, may be applied with propriety to one's going out of an inclosed field, or mount, as well as to his going out of a house; and though St. Luke seems to connect what happened in the mountain with the transactions in the garden, Luk 12:39-41 omitting their going to Gethsemane from the mountain; it should be considered that St. Matthew and St. Mark mention it particularly, and that the difficulty arising from St. Luke's connection is no greater, on supposition that Gethsemane was in the valley at the foot of the mountain, than on supposition that it was in the mountain itself. The truth is, there are many instances of this kind of connection to be met with in the gospels. It may be allowed then that Jesus came down from the mount of Olives with his disciples, crossed the brook Cedron, which ran through the valley, and so entered the garden of Gethsemane, which therefore lay between the brook Cedron and the city: probably it belonged to some of the country-seats with which the fields round the metropolis were beautified. The word Gethsemane in Hebrew signifies the valley of fatness. The garden probably had its name from its soil and situation; with some peculiar reference whereto, some have rendered it, torcular olei,—a vat of oil. See Macknight, and Univ. Hist. vol. 10. It deserves to be remarked, that the words which our Saviour here uses to his disciples, are the words of Abraham to his servants, when he went to offer up Isaac, the great type of our Redeemer. See Gen 22:5 in the LXX.