Verse 18
Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem ,.... Which was a reason why them were so many of the Jews come there to condole the two sisters upon the death of their brother; and by this means the following miracle became more known there: it was
about fifteen furlongs off ; that is, about two miles, for seven furlongs and a half made a Jewish mile, as appears from one of their canons F3 Misn. Bava Kama, c. 7. sect. 7. , which runs thus:
"they do not spread nets for doves, except it be distant from an habitable place, שלשים ריס , "thirty furlongs";'
which the commentators say F4 Maimon. Jarchi, & Bartenora in ib. are "four miles": and still more expressly it is said F5 Misn. Yoma, c. 6. sect. 4. , that
"between Jerusalem and Zuck, (the place where the scape goat was had,) there were ten tents, and ninety furlongs, שבעה ומחצה לכל מיל "seven and a half to every mile".'
Hence a furlong was called one seventh and a half of a mile F6 T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 33. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Rotzeach, c. 13. sect. 6. , which was 266 cubits, and two thirds of one.
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