Luke 19:13

ἐν ᾧ, אABDL, &c. ἕως is an incorrect gloss. See note.

13. δέκα δούλους ἑαυτοῦ. ‘Ten slaves of his own;’ for such a noble would count his servants by hundreds. The men being slaves the sums entrusted to them are small.

δέκα μνᾶς. The mina was 100 drachmas (Luke 15:8), and was worth £3. 6s. 8d. in nominal value. The word is a corruption of the Hebrew maneh. (2 Chronicles 9:16.) A comparison of this parable with that of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) will shew the wide diversities between the two. Archelaus did actually leave money in the charge of some of his servants, especially entrusting Philippus to look after his pecuniary interests in his absence.

πραγματεύσασθε. ‘Trade,’ negotiamini. Tyndale and the Genevan have ‘buy and sell.’ The “occupy” of the A. V[331] (in the sense of the Latin occupare) is found also in Cranmer and the Rhemish; comp. Psalms 107:23, “that … occupy their business in great waters” (Prayer-Book). For the command see 1 Peter 4:10.

[331] A. V. Authorised Version.

ἐν ᾧ ἔρχομαι. This reading (ἐν ᾧ, אABD, &c.) would mean ‘while I am on my journey,’ literally ‘during which I return.’ If we adopt the reading ἔως ἔρχομαι it means ‘till I come (which is quite certain)’ (John 21:22). A contingent return would be expressed by ἕως ἂν ἔλθω.