John Gill Commentary John 11:18

"Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off;" — John 11:18 (ASV)

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem
Which was a reason why there 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 , which runs thus:``they do not spread nets for doves, except it be distant from an habitable place, (oyr Myvlv) , "thirty furlongs";''

which the commentators say ^F4 are "four miles": and still more expressly it is said ^F5 , that ``between Jerusalem and Zuck, (the place where the scape goat was had,) there were ten tents, and ninety furlongs, (lym lkl huxmw hebv) "seven and a half to every mile".'' Hence a furlong was called one seventh and a half of a mile ^F6 , which was 266 cubits, and two thirds of one.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F3: Misn. Bava Kama, c. 7. sect. 7.
• F4: Maimon. Jarchi, & Bartenora in ib.
• F5: Misn. Yoma, c. 6. sect. 4.
• F6: T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 33. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Rotzeach, c. 13. sect. 6.