And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand. — Comp. Notes on John 2:13; John 6:4.
Out of the country. — Not the country near Ephraim, but the country generally, as opposed to the city.
To purify themselves. — The Law ordained no special purifications before the Passover, but on the general principle of ceremonial cleanness, a large number of pilgrims would necessarily go up before the feast to observe the legal rites and offer the required sacrifices. The time required varied from one to six days. (Comp. Genesis 35:2; Exodus 19:10-11; Numbers 9:10; 2 Chronicles 30:17-18; and Notes on John 18:28, and Acts 21:24; Acts 21:26; Acts 24:18.)