ἡ ἑορτὴ τ. Ἰ. The feast of the Jews. Possibly a mere date to mark the time. As already noticed (see on John 2:13), S. John groups his narrative round the Jewish festivals. But the statement may also be made as a further explanation of the multitude. Just before the Passover large bands of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem would be passing along the east shore of the lake. But we find that the multitude in this case are quite ready (John 6:24) to cross over to Capernaum, as if they had no intention of going to Jerusalem; so that this interpretation of the verse is uncertain. Equally doubtful is the theory that this verse gives a key of interpretation to the discourse which follows, the eating of Christ’s Flesh and Blood being the antitype of the Passover. From John 7:1 it would seem that Jesus did not go up to Jerusalem for this Passover.

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Old Testament