Mark 5:2

“And when he was come out of the ship, etc..] As soon as he was landed, immediately there met him out of the tombs, a man with an unclean spirit. The Jews have a notion, that a man by dwelling among the tombs, becomes possessed with an unclean spirit: hence they say of one that seeks to the dead, or a necromancer f62, this is he that starves himself, and goes “and lodges in the tombs”; hamwj wr wyl hrt ydk, “that so an unclean spirit j [ ç ç may dwell upon him”: which notion may arise from unclean spirits hurrying persons possessed by them, unto such places; partly for the terror, both of themselves and others; and partly to possess the minds of men with a persuasion, that they have power…”

“See this account of the demoniacs fully explained in the notes at Matthew 8:28-34. Mark 5:4 He had been often bound with fetters and chains - Efforts had been made to confine him, but his great strength - his strength increased by his malady - had prevented it. There often appears to be a great increase of strength produced by insanity, and what is here stated in regard to this maniac often occurs in Palestine and elsewhere now. Dr. Thomson (“The Land and the Book,” vol. i. p. 213) says respecting this case: “There are some very similar at the present day - furious and dangerous maniacs, who wander about the mountains, and sleep in tombs and caves. In their worst paroxysms they are quite…”

“There met him a man with an unclean spirit - St. Matthew mentions two. Probably this, so particularly spoken of here, was the most remarkably fierce and ungovernable. Mark 5:9”

“5:2-5 Mark focuses on Jesus. The evil spirit had great strength, but Jesus’ authority was even greater (5:6-13).”

“out: Isa 65:4; Luk 8:27 a man: Matthew gives a brief account of two demoniacs who were dispossessed on this occasion; but Mark and Luke omit the mention of one (who was perhaps not so remarkable). That these wretched men were not merely mad, as some suppose, but really possessed of evil spirits, appears clearly from the language employed, as well as from the narrative itself. Matthew expressly affirms that they were "possessed with devils," or demoniacs, δαιμονιζομενοι \[Strong's G1139\]; Mark says he had "an unclean spirit," i.e., a fallen spirit; and Luke asserts, that he "had devils (or demons) a long time," and was called Legion, "because many devils were entered into him." With…”