Bible Commentaries

The other side; the eastern side, which Jesus visited comparatively seldom. It was about five miles across the lake.

The tombs. The tombs in the countries around the Mediterranean were very remarkable. They consisted of natural or artificial excavations, often of great extent. In later times, they have often become the dens of robbers.--A man. Matthew mentions two men. (Matthew 8:28.)-- Luke 8:26-39; Mark 5:1-20 seem to speak only of the one whose case was most extraordinary.

Could bind him; could bind him securely, with the ordinary chains used for such a purpose.

Torment me; disturb me.

For he said; he had said.

Legion. Certain large divisions of the Roman army were called legions.

There have been great differences of opinion, and much discussion, in respect to the nature of the cases of demoniacal possession described in the New Testament; man persons having maintained that they were cases of natural, though severe, disease, and that the language referring them to the agency of evil spirits is only the figurative phraseology of Hebrew writers,--the case here described being, according to this idea, only a case of violent insanity. The subject is doubtless attended with serious difficulties, for it is not easy to account for such proceedings as are here related, on the supposition that intelligent beings from another world were the actors; and yet the language in which the events are described seems incapable of any other interpretation. The referring of these sufferings to the power of evil spirits does not, however, exclude the supposition of disease. The sacred writers evidently regarded these unhappy objects of the Savior's compassion as laboring under mental or bodily maladies: the distinction is, that they refer these maladies to a supernatural and evil a agency. There are strong indications of insanity, for example, in this case. The description of the condition of the patient, (Mark 5:3-5,) the incoherency of some of his answers, and, above all, the expression in his right mind, in Mark 5:15, conspire to show that this unhappy sufferer was in a state of maniacal frenzy,--though the source of this insanity is plainly ascribed to the agency of infernal beings.

If he had gone with Jesus, his presence and his story would have done very much to increase the public agitation and the consequent pressure of the crowd. These excitements the Savior showed himself constantly desirous to moderate and allay.

To the other side; that is, back to the western side, where he ordinarily resided.

The details of the case of the daughter of Jairus are stated quite differently, but not inconsistently, by Matthew, (Matthew 9:18.) Such reconcilable diversities, in ordinary testimony, are considered as adding to its strength, by proving its independence. Minute agreement indicates collusion.

She felt in her body. Not only was the disorder healed, but the debility and exhaustion which it had occasioned were at once removed. She felt not only freed from the disease, but vigorous and strong again.

Thy plague; thy disease.

Jesus had hitherto performed no greater miracle than to heal the diseases of the living. They supposed, therefore, that the death of the patient removed her from his power.

The tumult. Neighbors and friends were accustomed to express their sympathy, on such occasions of domestic sorrow, by loud lamentations.

The damsel is not dead, &c.; her spirit has not finally left the body, but is to be restored again.

And them that were with him; Peter, James and John,--the first among the apostles, and the Savior's most intimate and confidential friends. (Mark 5:37.)

Talitha-cumi; words of a Hebrew dialect, spoken at this time in Judea. Why the original words are quoted in this and on some other particular occasions, as Mark 15:34, does not appear.