4:31 So 1 he went down to Capernaum, 2 a town 3 in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he began to teach the people. 4
On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. 11
24:1 Now on the first day 12 of the week, at early dawn, the women 13 went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices 14 they had prepared.
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the continuation of the topic; in light of his rejection at Nazareth, Jesus went on to Capernaum.
2 sn Capernaum was a town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, 680 ft (204 m) below sea level. It was a major trade and economic center in the North Galilean region, and it became the hub of operations for Jesus’ Galilean ministry.
3 tn Or “city.”
4 tn Grk “them”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
6 tn Note that the verb is second person plural (with an understood plural pronominal subject in Greek). The charge is again indirectly made against Jesus by charging the disciples.
7 sn The alleged violation expressed by the phrase what is against the law is performing work on the Sabbath. That the disciples ate from such a field is no problem given Deut 23:25, but Sabbath activity is another matter in the leaders’ view (Exod 20:8-11 and Mishnah, m. Shabbat 7.2). The supposed violation involved reaping, threshing, winnowing, and preparing food. This probably explains why the clause describing the disciples “rubbing” the heads of grain in their hands is mentioned last, in emphatic position. This was preparation of food.
9 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
10 tn On this term see BDAG 140-41 s.v. ἄρωμα. The Jews did not practice embalming, so these preparations were used to cover the stench of decay and slow decomposition. The women planned to return and anoint the body. But that would have to wait until after the Sabbath.
11 tn Or “ointments.” This was another type of perfumed oil.
12 sn According to the commandment. These women are portrayed as pious, faithful to the law in observing the Sabbath.
13 sn The first day of the week is the day after the Sabbath.
14 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the women mentioned in 23:55) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
15 tn On this term see BDAG 140-41 s.v. ἄρωμα. See also the note on “aromatic spices” in 23:56.