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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:5

In the days of Herod - See the notes at Matthew 2:1.Of the course of Abia - When the priests became so numerous that they could not at once minister at the altar, David divided them into 24 classes or courses, each one of which officiated for a week, 1 Chronicles 24:0. The class or course (shift) of Abia was the “eighth” in order, 1 Chronicles 24:10. Compare 2 Chronicles 8:14. The word “course” means the same as “class,” or order. The Greek-based word “Abia” is the same as the Hebrew-based word... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:6

Both righteous - Both “just” or holy. This means here more than external conformity to the law. It is an honorable testimonial of their “piety” toward God.Walking in ... - Keeping the commandments. To walk in the way that God commands is “to obey.”Ordinances - Rites and customs which God had ordained or appointed. These words refer to all the duties of religion which were made known to them.Blameless - That is, no fault or deficiency could be found in them. They were strict, exact, punctual.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:7

Well stricken in years - Old or advanced in life, so as to render the prospect of having children hopeless. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:8

Before God - In the temple, where God dwelt by the symbols of His presence. The temple was regarded by the Jews as the “house” or dwelling of God; and in the “first” temple there was, in the most holy place, a “cloud” called the Shechinah, or a visible sign of the presence of God. It was thus “before God” that Zechariah offered incense. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:9

According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was. - The Jewish writers inform us that it was customary for the priests to divide their daily task by “lot.”To burn incense - Incense is an aromatic or white rosin procured from trees, chiefly in Arabia. It is obtained by making incisions in the tree, and the gum flows out. It is distinguished for an especially pleasant “smell” when burned, and was therefore used in ancient worship. It was burned by the priest twice a day Exodus 30:7,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:10

The whole multitude - This was the regular time of evening prayer, and multitudes came up to the temple to worship.Praying without - That is, in the courts around the temple, particularly in the court of the women. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:11

An angel - An “angel” is a messenger sent from God. See the notes at Matthew 1:20. It had now been about 400 years since the time of “Malachi,” and since there had been any divine revelation. During that time the nation was looking for the Messiah, but still with nothing more than the ancient prophecies to direct them. Now that he was about to appear, God sent his messenger to announce his coming, to encourage the hearts of his people, and to prepare them to receive him.On the right side ... -... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:12

He was troubled - He was alone, in the presence of God. The appearance of the angel was sudden, unexpected, and therefore fearful. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:13

Thy prayer is heard - That is, thy prayer for offspring. This, among the Jews, was an object of intense desire. No prospect was more gloomy to them than that of dying childless, so that their “name should perish.” Special pains, therefore, had been taken in the law to keep up the names of families by requiring a man to marry his brother’s wife, Deuteronomy 25:5. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 1:5

Luke 1:5. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea This is he who is commonly known by the name of Herod the Great, a cruel, ambitious man, who, without any title, obtained the crown of Judea from the Roman senate, to whom he was recommended by Mark Antony. Under his government the Jews were very uneasy, because he was a foreigner. Nevertheless, the Roman generals in those parts having given him possession of the throne, by his own prudence and address he maintained himself in it... read more

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