John Gill Commentary Mark 16

And when the sabbath was past
"In the end of it", as Matthew says, (Matthew 28:1); not "when it was the sabbath", as the Arabic version reads; for it was not lawful to buy spices, and anoint with on the sabbath day; (See Gill on Matthew 28:1).

Mary Magdalene, and Mary, [the mother of James,] and Salome ;
who was the wife of Zebedee, and the mother of the other James and John:

had bought sweet spices ;
or "brought", as the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions read; for though the women might have bought some on the preparation day, the day before the sabbath, the same evening that Christ was buried, (Luke 23:56), yet, they might buy more for the same purpose, after the sabbath was over: for this there was a particular market at Jerusalem ^F4 ; for we are told, that ``there were there three markets, one by another; in the first of which were sold, all kinds of precious things, silks, and embroidered work; in the second, various kinds of fruits and herbs; and in the third, all kinds of spices.''

That they might come and anoint him ;
with those sweet spices, as was the manner of the Jews: hence we read ^F5 of, (Mytm lv Mymvbh) , "the spices of the dead"; which were used to expel an ungrateful savour: this they did, out of affection to Christ, but seemed to have no faith in his resurrection, though he has told them of it, which they had forgot.

The Vulgate Latin reads, "that they might anoint Jesus"; the Ethiopic version, "anoint his body": but the Arabic thus, "anoint the sepulchre"; his body being anointed before, and wound up by Joseph and Nicodemus; and therefore they came to strew the sepulchre with spices and ointments, and give it a sweet perfume. Though it seems most likely, that they came to anoint his body; for this was one of the things which was customary in Israel to do to dead men, as Maimonides ^F6 observes, (Mymvb ynmb wtwa Nyko) , "they anoint him with various sorts of spices".

FOOTNOTES:

• F4: Jechus Haabot, p. 24. Ed. Hottinger.
• F5: Misn. Betacot, c. 8. sect. 6. & Barrenors in ib. T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 12. 2.
• F6: Hiichot Ebel, c. 4. sect. 1.

And very early in the morning, the first day of the week ,
&c.] (See Gill on Matthew 28:1).

They came to the sepulchre at the rising of the sun ;
of the sun of righteousness, as Mr. Mede observes; or rather, of the natural sun: for though it was dark when they set out, and when it dawned towards the first day, yet by that time that they all got to the sepulchre, the sun was rising; the Jews say ^F7 , that ``from the ascending of the morning, or break of day, until the sun rises, is an hour and a half.'' And so much time may very well be allowed the women, from their setting out, to their coming to the sepulchre. Moreover, they say {h}, that ``from the hind of the morning, to the time the east is enlightened, a man may walk four miles, and from the time that the east is enlightened, (hmxh Untv de) , "until the sun rises", four miles.'' But women must not be thought to walk so fast: let it be observed, that Christ, who is called the hind of the morning, (Psalms 22:1) (title, "Aijeleth Shahar"), and the morning star, (Revelation 22:16) , rose at this time.

FOOTNOTES:

• F7: Piske Tosaphot in Pesach. art. 44.

And they said among themselves
Either before they set out, or as they were going along:

who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre ?
Which they saw was placed there by Joseph, or his orders: this was the only difficulty they had, that they were aware of; for they seem to know nothing of the sealing of the stone, and of the watch that was set to guard the sepulchre: things which were done on the sabbath day, on which they rested:

for had they, in all likelihood they would never have attempted to have gone to it; the guard of soldiers would have been a sufficient discouragement: but all their concern was, how, and by whom, the stone should be rolled away, that lay at the door of the sepulchre; and perhaps their concern might be, not only on account of the largeness of the stone, as being too much for them to remove, but because such a stone defiled by touching it, according to the Jewish traditions ^F9 .

FOOTNOTES:

• F9: Misn. Oholot, c. 2. sect 4.

And when they looked
Towards the sepulchre, as they came near it:

they saw that the stone was rolled away ;
they perceived it lay at some distance from the door of the sepulchre, which doubtless was very grateful, and matter of rejoicing to them:

for it was very great ;
these words are to be read, in connection with the preceding verse; for they are not a reason, why when they looked towards the sepulchre, they saw the stone rolled, because it was a very large one, and so easily to be seen at a distance; but a reason why they were so thoughtful and concerned, who should roll it away for them, it being so big, that they could not think that they were able to do it themselves.

And entering into the sepulchre
For the sepulchres of the Jews were made so large, that persons might go into them: the rule for making them is this ^F11 ; "he that sells ground to his neighbour to make a burying place, or that receives of his neighbour to make a burying place, must make the inside of the cave four cubits by six, and open in it eight graves; three here, and three there, and two over against them: and the graves must be four cubits long, and seven high, and six broad. R. Simeon says, he must take the inside of the cave six cubits by eight, and open within thirteen graves: four here, and four there, and three over against them; and one on the right hand of the door, and one on the left; and he must make, (rux) , "a court", at the mouth of the cave, six by six, according to the bier, and those that bury; and he must open in the midst of it two caves, one here and another there. R. Simeon says, four at the four sides; R. Simeon ben Gamaliel says, all is according to the nature of the rock."

Now it was in the court that the women entered, where the bier was to be put down by the bearers; and where they could look into the sepulchre, and the several caves and graves in it, and what were in them. So Maimonides says ^F12 , "they dig caves in the earth, and make a grave on the side of the cave, and bury in it." And there being a door into one of these caves, persons might enter in, and see where the graves were, and the bodies lay.

They saw a young man ;
an angel; as angels used to appear in the form of men: nor is this any contradiction to John's account, who says there were two angels, one at the head, and another at the feet, (John 20:12) ; since Mark does not say there was no more than one; besides, John relates what Mary Magdalene saw, when alone, and Mark what all the women saw:

sitting on the right side ;
from where we learn, on what side of the door of the sepulchre Christ was laid, according to the above description of one:

clothed long white garment: (See Gill on Matthew 28:3); which was as white as snow:

and they were affrighted ;
at the sight of him; not expecting such a vision, but to have seen the body of their Lord.

FOOTNOTES:

• F11: Misn. Bava Bathra, c. 6. sect. 8.
• F12: Maimon. Hilch. Ebel, c. 4. sect. 4.