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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Luke 8:26

Γερασηνῶν BDC (in 37), Vulg[170] It[171] Γεργεσηνῶν אL.

[170] Vulg. Vulgate.
[171] It. Old Latin Version (Itala).

26. τῶν Γερασηνῶν. In all three narratives, here, Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-19, the MSS. vary between Gergesenes, Gadarenes, and Gerasenes, and Tischendorf follows א in reading Gadarenes (by a clerical error, Gazarenes) in St Matthew, Gerasenes in St Mark, and Gergesenes here.

i. Gadara, of which the large ruins are now seen at Um Keis, is three hours’ distance from the extreme south end of the Lake, and is separated from the scene of the miracle by the deep precipitous ravine of the Hieromax (Jarmuk). Gadarenes may be the right reading in St Matthew (אBCMΔ and MSS. mentioned by Origen) but, if so, it only gives the name of the entire district. Gadara was essentially a Greek city, and had two amphitheatres and a literary Greek society, and the worst features of Hellenic life.

ii. Gerasenes may be the right reading in St Mark (אBD, &c.). ‘Gerasa,’ now Djerash, is fifty miles from the Lake, and almost in Arabia, but it was an important town (Jos. B. J. III. 3), and like Gadara may have been used as the name of the entire district.

iii. Gergesenes is almost certainly the right reading here (אLX). It was the reading which, because of the distance of Gerasa and Gadara, Origen wished to introduce into Matthew 8:28, being aware that there was a small town called ‘Gergesa’ in the Wady Semakh, which was known also to Eusebius and Jerome, and was pointed out as the scene of the miracle. Yet the reading “Gergesenes” of א, in St Luke, could hardly have been due to the mere conjecture of Origen in the parallel passage of St Matthew, for it is found in other uncials, in most cursives, and in the Coptic, Ethiopic and other versions. Gergesa has however nothing to do with the ancient Girgashites (Deuteronomy 7:1; Joshua 24:11), who were probably at the West of the Jordan. The question as to the place intended as the scene of the miracle (whatever reading be adopted) may be considered as having been settled by Dr Thomson’s discovery of ruins named Kerzha (the natural corruption of Gergesa) nearly opposite Capernaum. The name of this little obscure place may well have been given by St Matthew, who knew the locality, and by so accurate an inquirer as St Luke. The reading may have been altered by later copyists who knew the far more celebrated Gadara and Gerasa. Hence we can attach no importance to the attempt to explain away the story, because Gadara is said to mean ‘fold,’ and Garash ‘to cast out,’ and Gergesa (according to Origen) παροικία ἐκβεβληκότων.

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See also Luke 8:26 in other biblical comments:

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Old Testament