John Gill Commentary John 12:13

"took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel." — John 12:13 (ASV)

Took branches of palm trees
The Ethiopic version adds, "and young shoots from Jerusalem"; these grew in great plenty, on one part of the Mount of Olives, that next to Bethany, from which that town had its name; for it signifies the house of dates, the fruit of the palm tree; (See Gill on Matthew 21:17). And as that tree was a sign of joy and victory, they carried branches of it in their hands, as they met the King Messiah, who was about to make his public entrance into Jerusalem, in triumph. There, by his sufferings and death, he should gain the victory over sin, Satan, the world, and death, and lay a solid foundation for joy and peace to all that believe in him:

The Jews say ^F14, if a man takes (Nyyab), (the very Greek word here used,) palm tree branches in his hands, we know that he is victorious. The Persic version reads, "branches of olives".

And went forth to meet him, and cried ;
when they came up to him, and as he passed by them:

Hosanna, blessed is the King of Israel, that cometh in the name of
the Lord; (See Gill on Matthew 21:9).

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FOOTNOTES:

• F14: Vajikra Rabba, sect. 30. fol. 170. 3.