John Gill Commentary Mark 6:40

"And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties." — Mark 6:40 (ASV)

And they sat down in ranks
Or "beds": in such form as little beds are placed in a garden, or as rows of vines in a vineyard, in which form the scholars of the wise men sat in their schools.

It is said ^F7, ``R. Eliezer ben Azariah expounded before the wise men in the vineyard (i.e. the university) of Jabneh: though was there a vineyard there? but these are the disciples of the wise men, who are made, or placed, (twrwv twrwv) , "rows, rows", or "in ranks", as a vineyard.''

By hundreds, and by fifties ;
that is, an hundred in "each" bed, or row, and fifty in "each" bed, or row, as the word (ana) , signifies. Each distinct bed, or row, had either a hundred, or fifty in it.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F7: T. Hieros. Beraeot, fol. 7. 4. Vid. Gloss. in T. Bab. Yebamot, fol. 42. 2.