Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
Ver. 18. About fifteen furlongs] Not fully two miles: a short walk, and hence so great a resort to the place; not without a special providence of God, who ordereth all to his own glory. The Jews came only to comfort the sisters, and to condole with them (it is a mercy in misery to find such friends, qui maeroris et funeris pondera luctuosa participabunt, as Cyprian hath it, that will set to their shoulders, and bear a part), but God had a further end in that meeting, ne obscura esset Lazari resurrectio, that there might be many witnesses of Lazarus' resurrection; who might also thereby be made partakers of the first resurrection,Revelation 20:6 .