Luke 19:1

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

XIX.

(1) And passed through Jericho.—Better, and was passing through. The narrative that follows is peculiar to this Gospel.

Benson Commentary

Luke 19:1-2. Jesus entered and passed through Jericho — Namely, after performing the miracle recorded at the close of the preceding chapter. He was now on his way from the other side Jordan to Bethany, near Jerusalem, to which place he hastened, with a view to be there eight or ten days before the passover, intending to preach and work miracles in the most public manner, under the eye of all the people, and of the grandees, of whose resentment he was no longer afraid, because his ministry had continued the appointed time, and he was determined to die at this passover. There was a certain man named Zaccheus, chief among the publicans — One of the principal tax-gatherers, or head-collector, or perhaps what we would term the commissioner of the customs. And he was rich — Having heaped up abundance of wealth by his gainful employment.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

19:1-10 Those who sincerely desire a sight of Christ, like Zaccheus, will break through opposition, and take pains to see him. Christ invited himself to Zaccheus' house. Wherever Christ comes he opens the heart, and inclines it to receive him. He that has a mind to know Christ, shall be known of him. Those whom Christ calls, must humble themselves, and come down. We may well receive him joyfully, who brings all good with him. Zaccheus gave proofs publicly that he was become a true convert. He does not look to be justified by his works, as the Pharisee; but by his good works he will, through the grace of God, show the sincerity of his faith and repentance. Zaccheus is declared to be a happy man, now he is turned from sin to God. Now that he is saved from his sins, from the guilt of them, from the power of them, all the benefits of salvation are his. Christ is come to his house, and where Christ comes he brings salvation with him. He came into this lost world to seek and to save it. His design was to save, when there was no salvation in any other. He seeks those that sought him not, and asked not for him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And Jesus entered ... - See the notes at Matthew 20:29. This means, perhaps, "he was passing" through Jericho when Zacchaeus saw him. His house was "in" Jericho.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 19

Lu 19:1-10. Zaccheus the Publican.

The name is Jewish.Luke 19:1-10 Christ visiteth Zacchaeus the publican.

Luke 19:11-27 The parable of a nobleman who left money with his

servants to trade with in his absence.

Luke 19:28-40 Christ rideth in triumph into Jerusalem.

Luke 19:41-44 He weepeth over the city,

Luke 19:45,46 driveth the buyers and sellers out of the temple,

Luke 19:47,48 teacheth daily therein: the rulers seek to destroy him.

Jericho was a very rich city, in the tribe of Benjamin, less than twenty miles distance from Jerusalem, (whither our Saviour was going), and less than eight miles distance from Jordan: See Poole on "Numbers 22:1". It was the first place which Joshua sent persons to spy out, before he had conducted the Israelites over Jordan, Joshua 2:1-24; he took it, Joshua 6:1-27, and cursed the man that should rebuild it, for he burned it, Joshua 6:24. He prophesied, that he who should go about to rebuild it, should lay the foundation of it in his first born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son; which accordingly fell out in Ahab’s time, to one Hiel, a Bethelite, 1 Kings 16:34. Through this town, or city, which now had been rebuilt many years, our Saviour passeth in his way to Jerusalem.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Jesus entered, and passed through Jericho. Though the word "Jesus" is not in the original text it is rightly supplied in our version; as it is also in the Syriac, Persic, Ethiopic versions; for of him the words are manifestly spoken: after he had healed the blind man he met with near to Jericho, he entered into it, but made no stay in it, passed through it at once without stopping, though a very populous city; but here he had no work, either to perform miracles, or to convert sinners; though both, before he entered, and after he passed through it.

Geneva Study Bible

And {1} Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

(1) Christ especially guides by his grace those who seem to be furthest from it.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Luke 19:1-2. This history[229] with the stamp of Luke’s language is worked up by him from tradition.

ὈΝΌΜΑΤΙ-G0- ΚΑΛΟΎΜ-G0-.] Comp. Luke 1:61. Classical writers would have said ὌΝΟΜΑ ΚΑΛ. (Herod. i. 173; Plat. Crat. p. 483 B).

Ζακχαῖος] = זַכַּי, pure, Ezra 2:9; Nehemiah 7:14. Even the name (among the Rabbins also, see Lightfoot, p. 870) shows him to be a Jew. See on Luke 19:9 and Castalio in loc. The Clementines represent him as a companion of Peter, and by him consecrated as bishop of Caesarea. See Hom. iii. 63, Recogn. iii. 65. Comp. Constit. Apost. vi. 8. 3, vii. 46. 1.

αὑτός] after the name (as Luke 8:41), his personal condition.

ἀρχιτελώνης] chief publican or tax-collector, probably a steward of the Roman farmer of the taxes, entrusted with supervision of the ordinary tax-collectors. Comp. Salmasius, de foen. trapez. p. 245 f.; Burm. vectig. populi Rom. p. 134. The tribute in Jericho may have had to do especially with the trade carried on there in the production and export of balsam (a trade which now no longer exists, see Robinson, Pal. II. p. 537).

ΚΑῚ ΟὟΤΟς ἮΝ] a prolix simplicity of style. Comp. Luke 2:37, Luke 7:12, Luke 20:28.

[229] According to Eichthal, II. p. 291, a mistaken copy of the call of Matthew (Matthew 9)!

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 19:1-10. The story of Zacchaeus, in Lk. only, apparently derived from an Aramaic source—note the abundant use of καὶ to connect clauses—but bearing traces of editorial revision in the style (καθότι, Luke 19:9).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Luke 19:1-10. Zacchaeus the Tax-gatherer.

1. entered and passed through] Literally, “having entered Jericho was passing through it.”

Jericho] Jericho (the City of Palm trees, Deuteronomy 34:3; Jdg 1:16) is about 6 miles from the Jordan, and 15 from Jerusalem. It was from a point opposite to it that Moses had viewed Canaan, Deuteronomy 34:1. When taken by Joshua the site had been cursed (Joshua 6:26): but, in the reign of Ahab, Hiel of Bethel defied and underwent the curse (1 Kings 16:34). In later times Jericho became a great and wealthy town, being fertilised by its abundant spring (2 Kings 2:21) and enriched by its palms and balsams, Jos. Antt. iv. 6; B. J. IV. 8; Sir 24:14, “I was exalted like a palm tree in Engaddi and like a rose plant in Jericho.” The plant however usually called the rose of Jericho is the Anastatica Hierochuntia of Linnaeus. A mediaeval Itinerary says that the site—on which now stands the miserable and degraded village of Riha—was ‘most rich in flowers and odoriferous shrubs.’

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 19:1. Διήρχετο, was passing through) Therefore Zaccheus must have lived in the farther part of the town, and that tree was in the town itself.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 1-10. - Jesus lodges in the house of Zacchaeus, "the chief among the publicans" at Jericho. This episode, which took place at Jericho just before the Lord's entry into Jerusalem the last time, is peculiar to this Gospel. That the source was Hebrew (Aramaic) is clear from the wording of the narration. Some brief Hebrew (Aramaic) memoir was given to St. Luke, whence he derived his information of this most interesting and instructive incident of the last journey of the Master. Verses 1, 2. - And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. Jericho, under the Herods, had become again an important centre of trade. It lay on the road from Person to Judaea and Egypt, and had, of course, an important custom-house. The Balm which came especially from the Gilead district was sent through there into all parts of the world. Zacchaeus was at the head of this customs department at Jericho. The exact position of such an official in those days is not known. He probably farmed the customs revenue under some great Roman capitalist of the equestrian order. In such an appointment it was easy to commit even involuntary injustices. The temptations to such an official to enrich himself at the expense of others, besides, were sadly numerous. Named Zacchaeus. Zakkai signifies "pure" (see Ezra 2:9; Nehemiah 7:14). It is curious that we find in the Talmud a man named Zakkai, the father of the famous rabbi Jochauan, living at Jericho. Luke 19:1

Vincent's Word Studies

Jericho

The city was close to the fords of the Jordan, on the frontier of Peraea, and on the richest plain of Palestine, abounding most in the choicest productions, especially balsam; and was, therefore, an appropriate seat for an officer of superior rank to preside over the collection of revenues. See on Matthew 9:9; Luke 3:12.

Jericho

The city was close to the fords of the Jordan, on the frontier of Peraea, and on the richest plain of Palestine, abounding most in the choicest productions, especially balsam; and was, therefore, an appropriate seat for an officer of superior rank to preside over the collection of revenues. See on Matthew 9:9; Luke 3:12.