iii. It appears, however, almost certain, Merivale says

_demonstrated_, that Publius Sulpicius Quirinus (Cyrenius) was _twice_ governor of Syria, _first_ from A.U.C. 750–753, or B.C. 4–1, and _secondly_ from A.U.C. 760–765, or A.D. 6–11. It is true that Cyrenius does not appear to have been governor till the autumn of A.U.C. 750, but the enumeration may have begun or been appointed under Varus the preceding governor, and being suspended in consequence of Herod’s death and the disturbances that followed it, was reserved for execution to Cyrenius, with whose name it was connected. Merivale, IV. 457; Ellicott, p. 58 n.; Andrews, 5–8; and see the results of Zumpt’s dissertation _De Syriâ Romanorum provinciâ_ in Wieseler’s Synopsis, 129–135.

198 ‒ On Herod’s completely tributary relation to Rome, see Wieseler, _Chronol. Synop._ pp. 84, 85.

199 ‒ “In the kingdoms of their allies the Romans adopted at first a milder, and even when circumstances dictated it, an exceedingly lenient form of census. This we may be sure would have been the case in the census of Palestine under Herod, who reigned over the entire nation of the Jews, a people so much inclined to revolt. It is probable that the forms for holding the census, issued by Rome, were adapted as closely as possible to the conditions of the country, while the execution of it was, as far as practicable, entrusted to the sole management of Herod and his officers.” Wieseler, p. 82.

200 ‒ Under purely Roman law “Joseph might _perhaps_ have been enrolled at Nazareth,” but the fact that he is described by the Evangelist as journeying to Bethlehem to be enrolled at the town of his forefathers, is in remarkable accordance with “the perplexed political relations of the intensely national yet all but subject Judæa.” Ellicott’s _Lectures_, p. 60.

201 ‒ On the reasons why this journey was often taken by the Jews, see above, pp. 122, 123.

202 ‒ It is not impossible that these Magi were acquainted with Balaam’s prophecy respecting a star to rise out of Jacob (Num. xxiv. 17; _Class-Book of O. T. History_, 191, 192), and very probable that they were not ignorant of the Prophecies of Daniel. The general expectation in the East at this time that a king should arise in Judæa to rule the world, is mentioned in Suetonius, _Vesp._ c. IV., Tac. _Hist._ V. 13.

203 ‒ The Magi were a tribe of the Medes, like that of Levi among the Jews, to whom were entrusted all the priestly functions connected with the practice of their religion, the chief feature of which was a worship of the elements, as also the study of astrology, and the interpretation of dreams.

204 ‒ Though the terrible disorder which carried him off was already afflicting him, and it wanted probably but a few days of the period when he sought relief in the baths of Callirhoe; see above, p. 104, Ellicott’s _Lectures_, p. 75, n.

205 ‒ The customary gifts of subject nations, see Gen. xliii. 11; Ps. lxxii. 15; 1 Kings x. 2, 10; 2 Chron. ix. 24; Cant. iii. 6; iv. 14.

206 ‒ Under any circumstances the number of children thus ruthlessly murdered could not have been large. “In peaceful times such an act as this, even if executed, as this probably was, in secresy, would have excited general indignation when it became known; but now the Jewish people had so long ‘supped with horrors,’ and were so engrossed in the many perils that threatened their national existence, that this passed by comparatively unnoticed. Such a deed, from a man of whom Josephus says that ‘he was brutish and a stranger to all humanity,’ ... could have awakened no surprise. It was wholly in keeping with his reckless and savage character, but one, and by no means the greatest of his crimes. It is therefore possible that it may never have come to the knowledge of the Jewish historian, writing so many years after the event.” Andrews, p. 89, Rawlinson’s _Bampton Lectures_, pp. 352, 3 and note.

207 ‒ Compare the execution of the zealots for pulling down the Golden Eagle, above, p. 104.

208 ‒ See above, p. 82.

209 ‒ See above, p. 105.

210 ‒ See above, p. 105.

211 ‒ He was the son of Herod by his Samaritan wife Malthace (Jos. _Ant._ XVII. 8. 1; _B. J._ I. 28. 4). He was guilty of great cruelty and oppression. Not long after his accession he put to death in the Temple 3000 of the Jews, letting loose upon them his entire army during the Paschal Festival (Jos. _Ant._ XVII. 9. 3; _B. J._ II. 1. 3). The Samaritans also suffered terribly from his cruelties (_B. J._ II. 7. 3).

212 ‒ Andrews’ _Life of our Lord on Earth_, p. 91; Ellicott, p. 81.

213 ‒ The attendance of women at the great feasts was not _required_ by the Law. Ellicott, p. 89.

214 ‒ “As is well known, the first day’s journey of a company of eastern travellers is always short. On that day it is not customary to go more than six or eight miles, and the tents are pitched, for the first night’s encampment, almost within sight of the place from which the journey commences.” Hackett, _Script. Ill._ 12, quoted in Andrews, p. 96.

215 ‒ This we may compute in two ways; either (i) the _first_, that of their departure from Jerusalem; _second_, the day of their return; _third_, the day when He was found; or (ii) excluding the day of departure; _first_, the day of their return; _second_, the day of search in Jerusalem; _third_, the day when He was found. _Ibid._

216 ‒ See above, p. 96; comp. Lightfoot _Hor. Heb._ on Lk. ii. 46.

217 ‒ This was the general opinion of the early Fathers; is in accordance with the settled custom of the Jews to bring up their sons to some trade; and is implied in the question of the inhabitants of Nazareth, “_Is not this the carpenter?_” (Mtt. xiii. 55, Mk. vi. 3).

218 ‒ The _Roman province of Judæa_ extended from the plain of Esdraelon southwards to the desert, and in our Lord’s time _included Samaria_, which had now no separate political existence. On Idumæa, see above, p. 32 and note.

219 ‒ Galilee, from the Hebrew form _Galil_ or _Galilah_ (comp. Jos. xx. 7; 1 Kings ix. 11; Is. ix. 1), denoting “a circle” or “region,” and “implying the separation of the district from the more regularly organized tribes or kingdoms of Samaria and Judæa,” extended from the region of Lebanon to the southern border of the plain of Esdraelon. It thus comprised the district formerly occupied by the tribes of Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun, Issachar, and part of Manasseh, and was divided into two sections: (i) _Lower Galilee_, which included the rich plain of Esdraelon and the whole region from the plain of Akka to the shores of the Lake of Gennesaret. (For the fertility of this region, see _Class-Book of O. T. History_, pp. 219, 220.) (ii) _Upper Galilee_, which “embraced the whole mountain-range lying between the Upper Jordan and Phœnicia,” and was also called _Galilee of the Gentiles_ (Matt. iv. 15; 1 Macc. v. 15), for twenty of its towns were given by Solomon to Hiram king of Tyre (1 K.