Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees,.... Who were of the sanhedrim:
had given a commandment; or published an edict, a decree of the senate:
that if any man knew where he were, he should show [it], that they might take him; and this made it a doubtful point with some, whether he would come to the feast or not; and was the reason why others sought for him, and inquired after him, that they might discover him to the chief priests and Pharisees, and have the promised reward.