John 5:1 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

A feast] i.e. the Feast of Purim, which occurs in March (Adar 14, 15), about a month before the Passover. Its origin is doubtful, though the Jews commemorated in it the triumph over Haman, who proposed to exterminate the Jews in the Persian empire on a particular day (13th Adar, 473 b.c.), chosen by lot (pur, href='190 3:7'>Est 3:7). The feast was mainly of a convivial and charitable character, but in the synagogues the book of Esther was read, and the congregation applauded the name of Mordecai, and cursed that of Haman. (An inferior but strongly supported reading here is 'the feast,' which would probably mean the Passover. Those who adopt it are compelled to add a whole year to Christ's ministry.)