Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 10:46

"And they come to Jericho: and as he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the way side." — Mark 10:46 (ASV)

This last of the healing miracles in Mark’s gospel takes place near Jericho, a city located five miles west of the Jordan and about fifteen miles northeast of Jerusalem. There was an old Jericho and a new Jericho, built by Herod. It is possible that the miracle was done somewhere between the old Israelite city and the new city, for Luke records this miracle as Jesus went into the city and Mark, as he was leaving. Mark gives the name of the blind man—Bartimaeus (“son of Timai”). In the Middle East, a blind man sitting along the road begging is a common sight.