John 6:13

baskets All four accounts have the same word for basket, cophinus, i.e. the wallet which every Jew carried when on a journey, to keep himself independent of Gentile food, which would be unclean. Comp. Juvenal iii. 14. Each of the Twelve gathered into his own wallet, and filled it full. Moreover in referring to the miracle the word cophinusis used (Matthew 16:9). In the feeding of the 4000 (Matthew 15:37; Mark 8:8), and in referring to it (Matthew 16:10), a different word for basket, spuris, is used. Such accuracy is evidence of truth. See note on Mark 8:8. S. Mark tells us that fragments of fish were gathered also. The remnants far exceed in quantity the original store.

The expedients to evade the obvious meaning of the narrative are worth mentioning, as shewing how some readers are willing to -violate all the canons of historical evidence," rather than admit the possibility of a miracle: (1) that food had been brought over and concealed in the boat; (2) that some among the multitude were abundantly supplied with food and were induced by Christ's example to share their supply with others; (3) that the whole is an allegorical illustration of Matthew 6:33. How could either (1) or (2) excite even a suspicion that He was the Messiah, much less kindle such an enthusiasm as is recorded in John 6:15? And if the whole is an illustration of Matthew 6:33, what meaning in the allegory can be given to this popular enthusiasm? There are "rationalising expedients that are considerably more incredible than miracles." S. p. 126.