Matthew 20:20,21 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Then came to him, &c.— Our Saviour's predictions respecting his sufferings were either not understood by his disciples, or at least they apprehended that, whatever difficulties lay in the way, those sufferings certainly would end in his temporaltriumphandglory.Uponthispresumption,themotherofZebedee'schildren, with her sons James and John, and at their instigation, came to Jesus with a peculiar request, which discovered in the clearest manner the temper of mindthey were in: see Mark 10:35. It seems Salome, for that was her name, (compare ch. Matthew 27:56 with Mark 15:40.) was now in our Lord's train, having followed him from Galilee with other pious women, who attended him in his journey, and ministered unto him; that is, supplied him with money, and took care to have him accommodated with lodging and other necessaries. Salome could the more easily give this attendance, as her husband seems now to have been dead, and to have left her in good circumstances, according to his station; for we learn from the Gospels that he had a vessel of his own, and hired servants. Salome, therefore being particularlyacquainted with our Lord, and having always shewn him great respect, thought herself entitled to distinguished favour, and on that account readily undertook, at the desire of her sons, to intercede with him in their behalf. Ever since Christ's transfiguration the two brothers had conceived very high notions of the glory of his kingdom, and, it may be, of their own merit also, because they had been admitted to behold that miracle. They formed the project, therefore, of securing to themselves the chief places by his particular promise, and embraced this as a fit opportunityof accomplishing their purpose. There is probably an allusion in the words of their request to a circumstance which the Talmudical writers relate concerning the Sanhedrim,—that there were two officers of distinction, who sat on each side of the Nasi, or president of the court;—the one called Ab-bethdin, or, "the father of the justiciary," who sat on the right hand of the president; the other Chacham, or the sage, who sat on the left. See Witsius. Miscel. Sacra, vol. 1: lib. 2: diss. 3 and Bishop Bull's works, vol. 1: p. 286.