John 11:19

“And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, etc.] Or “to those that were about Martha and Mary”; in order to have access to them, they came to them, and to the rest of the family; though the phrase may design them only, as the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions read: these Jews, as appears from the context, (<431118>John 11:18,45,46), came from Jerusalem, and might be some of the principal inhabitants; and it may be concluded, that these persons, Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, were people of note and figure; and indeed all the accounts of them here, and elsewhere, show the same; (see <421038>Luke 10:38 <431201>John 12:1-3). The end of their coming to them was to comfort them…”

“many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort them--Thus were provided, in a most natural way, so many witnesses of the glorious miracle that was to follow, as to put the fact beyond possible question.”

“Many of the Jews - Probably their distant relatives or their friends. To comfort - These visits of consolation were commonly extended to seven clays (Grotius; Lightfoot). return to 'Top of Page'”

“11:19 Life in New Testament times was lived publicly. Lazarus’s large extended family, as well as the villagers, had arrived for a seven-day mourning period. To console the sisters in their loss, there was great wailing and crying (see 11:33 and corresponding study note).”

“to comfort: Gen 37:35; Sa2 10:2; Ch1 7:21, Ch1 7:22; Job 2:11, Job 42:11; Ecc 7:2; Isa 51:19; Jer 16:5-7; Lam 1:2, Lam 1:9, Lam 1:16, Lam 1:21, Lam 2:13; Rom 12:15; Co2 1:4; Th1 4:18, Th1 5:11 John 11:20”