Τῇ ἐπαύριον, i.e., probably on Sunday, called Palm Sunday in the Church year [κυριακὴ τῶν βαΐων, dominica palmarum, or, in ramis palmarum]. Four days before the Passover the Jews were required to select a lamb for the feast. ὄχλος πολὺς ὁ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν ἑορτὴν, and therefore not Jerusalemites, ἀκούσαντες … ἔλαβον τὰ βαΐα τῶν φοινίκων “took the fronds of the palms,” the palms which every one knew as growing on the road from Jerusalem to Bethany. The βαΐα (from Coptic βαι) were recognised as symbols of victory or rejoicing. Cf. 1Ma 13:51, μετὰ αἰνέσεως καὶ βαΐων. So Pausanias (viii. 48), ἐς δὲ τὴν δεξιάν ἐστι καὶ πανταχοῦ τῷ νικῶντι ἑστιθέμενος φοινῖξ. Cf. Hor., Odes, I. i. 5, “palma nobilis”. This demonstration was evidently the result of recent events, especially, as stated in John 12:18, of the raising of Lazarus.

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Old Testament