IX. THE GUEST CHAMABER FOR THE PASSOVER

Mark 14:13.—“And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the good man of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples?”

When Cestius wished to inform Nero of the numbers which attended the Passover at Jerusalem, he counted the victims and allowed ten persons to each head, “because a company not less than ten belong to every sacrifice (for it is not lawful for them to feast singly by themselves), and many are twenty in company.”—Bell. Jud. c. vi. 9. § 3.

Accordingly, the Gospel narrative is in strict conformity with this custom. When Christ goes up to Jerusalem to attend the Passover for the last time, He is not described as running the chance of hospitality in the houses of any of his friends, because, on this occasion, the parties would be made up, and the addition of thirteen guests might be inconvenient, but He sends forth beforehand, from Bethany most probably, two of his disciples to the city, with orders to engage a room (a precaution very necessary where so many companies would be seeking accommodation), and there eats the Passover with his followers, a party of thirteen, which it appears was about the usual number [See Whiston’s Note upon Joseph. B. J. vi. 9. 3.]