ἵνα τοὺς δεσμώτας�, that they should kill the prisoners. This advice was given because, by the Roman law, the soldiers were answerable with their own lives for the prisoners placed under their charge.

For ἵνα after a word or phrase signifying ‘to counsel’ or ‘decree’ cf. John 9:22. Also Sir 44:18, διαθῆκαι αἰῶνος ἐτέθησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἵνα μὴ ἐξαλειφθῇ κατακλυσμῷ πᾶσα σάρξ.

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Old Testament