Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 24:17
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
17. not come down to take any thing out of his house ] i. e. either (1) pass from the roof to the entrance, and thence to the street, without entering any apartments, or (2) escape along the flat roofs from house to house.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Him which is on the house-top – The roofs of the houses in Eastern countries were made flat, so that they were favorable places for walking and retirement. See the notes at Mat 9:1-8. The meaning here is, that He who should be on the house-top when this calamity came upon the city should flee without delay; He should not even take time to secure any article of apparel from his house. So sudden would be the calamity, that by attempting to do this He would endanger his life.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. Let him which is on the house top] The houses of the Jews, as well as those of the ancient Greeks and Romans, were flat-roofed, and had stairs on the outside, by which persons might ascend and descend without coming into the house. In the eastern walled cities, these flat-roofed houses usually formed continued terraces from one end of the city to the other; which terraces terminated at the gates. He, therefore, who is walking on the house top, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house; but let him instantly pursue his course along the tops of the houses, and escape out at the city gate as fast as he can.
Any thing] Instead of , any thing, we should read , the things; which reading is supported by all the best MSS., versions, and fathers.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Let him which is on the housetop,…. Who should be there either for his devotion or recreation; for the houses of the Jews were built with flat roofs and battlements about them, which they made use of both for diversion and pleasure, and for private meditation and prayer, for social conversation, and sometimes for public preaching; see Mt 10:27
not come down to take anything out of his house: that is, let him not come down in the inner way, but by the stairs, or ladder, on the outside of the house, which was usual. They had two ways of going out of, and into their houses; the one they call d, , “the way of the doors”; the other, , “the way of the roof”: upon which the gloss is,
“to go up on the outside, , “by way” or “means” of a ladder, fixed at the entrance of the door of the upper room, and from thence he goes down into the house by a ladder;”
and in the same way they could come out; see Mr 2:4 and let him not go into his house to take any of his goods, or money, or food along with him necessary for his sustenance in his flight; lest, whilst he is busy in taking care of these, he loses his life, or, at least, the opportunity of making his escape; so sudden is this desolation represented to be.
d T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 117. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
On the housetop ( ). They could escape from roof to roof and so escape, “the road of the roofs,” as the rabbis called it. There was need for haste.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Him which is on the house – top [ ] . From roof to roof there might be a regular communication, called by the Rabbis “the road of the roofs.” Thus a person could make his escape passing from roof to roof, till, at the last house, he would descend the stairs on the outside of the house, but within the exterior court. The urgency of the flight is enhanced by the fact that the stairs lead into this court. “Though you must pass by the very door of your room, do not enter to take anything out. Escape for your life.”
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
(17) Let him which is on the housetop.The houses in the streets of Jerusalem were built in a continuous line, and with flat roofs, so that a man might pass from house to house without descending into the street until he came to some point near the wall or gate of the city, and so make his escape. At a moment of danger (in this case that arising from the factions within the city, rather than the invaders without), any delay might prove fatal. Men were to escape as though their life were given them for a prey (Jer. 45:5), without thinking of their goods or chattels.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. On the housetop not come down Our Lord is here still describing the troubles in the country, after the downfall of the city. He is drawing vivid pictures of the pursuit of Jews by the Romans by single instances and examples. For instance, many a man may be on the housetop when a pursuer arrives, and his best way is to rush down the stairs on the outside of the house without stopping to take anything from the inside. The stairs often also descended within, but near the porch so that the fugitive could escape without entering the rooms. Or he might escape by crossing neighbouring roofs.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house, and let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak.”
The necessity of acting with speed in the situation is emphasised by two examples. Those who are on the flat roofs of their houses within the city when they hear the news, are immediately to descend the outside stairs and flee without even taking the time to collect anything from the house, while those who are out in the fields when they hear the news, are not to return home to gather their necessities, not even their cloaks whatever the weather, but are to make for the mountains immediately. Such would be the urgency of the hour. This is not so much intended to be practical advice as to stress the urgency of the situation. When the time came not a moment was to be lost.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 24:17. Let him which is on the house-top The houses of the Jews, and of the present inhabitants of the East, as well as those of the ancient Greeks and Romans, were flat on the top for them to walk on, and had usually two pair of stairs, one on the inside, and the other on the out, by the latter of which they could ascend and descend, without coming into the house. In the Eastern walled cities these flat-roofed houses usuallyformed continued terraces from one end of the cityto the other, which terraces terminated at the gates. He, therefore, who is walking and regaling himself upon the house-top, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house; but let him instantly pursue his course along the tops of the houses, and escape out at the city-gate as fast as he possibly can. See Bishop Newton.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Ver. 17. Not come down to take any thing ] See here the miseries of war, which now, alas, we feel, and can seal to: being glad to flee for our lives with the loss of all, lest with Shimei, seeking to save our goods we lose life and all; glad if we may escape with the skin of our teeth. And how like are our present convulsions to end in a deadly consumption? War is called evil by a specialty,Isa 45:7Isa 45:7 . Sin, Satan, and war have all one name: evil is the best of them. The best of sin is deformity, of Satan enmity, of war misery. God yet offereth us mercy, as Alexander did those he warred against, while the lamp burned. Oh, let us break off our sins by repentance, and be abrupt in it, lest we should seem to come short, Heb 4:1 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
17. ] A person might run on the flat-roofed houses in Jerusalem from one part of the city to another, and to the city gates. Perhaps however this is not meant, but that he should descend by the outer stairs instead of the inner, which would lose time.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 24:17-18 . ividly express the urgency of the flight. . ., etc., the man on the house top must fly without stopping to get articles of value in the house down the outside stair and off. . ., elliptical = the things in his house, from his house. , let the man in the field, on hearing the fatal report, fly in his tunic, not returning home for his upper robe. “No man works in his mantle, the peasant leaves it at home, now as in Christ’s time” (Furrer, Wanderungen , p. 117).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
anything. All the texts read “the things”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
17.] A person might run on the flat-roofed houses in Jerusalem from one part of the city to another, and to the city gates. Perhaps however this is not meant, but that he should descend by the outer stairs instead of the inner, which would lose time.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 24:17. , let him not come down) sc. let him come down, not by the inner, but by the outer stairs.[1045]- , to take anything) e.g. victuals; corresponding with garments in the next verse.
[1045] The roofs of Jewish houses could be reached either by the inner staircase, which communicated with the interior, or by the outer steps, which led directly to the ground without.-(I. B.)
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
which: Mat 6:25, Job 2:4, Pro 6:4, Pro 6:5, Mar 13:15, Mar 13:16, Luk 17:31-33
the housetop: Mat 10:27, Deu 22:8
Reciprocal: Gen 45:20 – stuff Jos 2:6 – to the roof Jos 2:19 – whosoever
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4:17. Houses had flat roofs and the buildings were joined one against another even unto the end of the street at the wall. If a man had gone up there for some reason and saw the army of the Romans near he did not need to come down, but could go from one roof to another until he reached the wall.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 24:17. On the house-top. The flat roofs of eastern dwellings were a favorite place of resort.
Not go down. Some suppose this is a command to flee along the house-tops or to go down by the outer stairs as a quicker way. What is distinctly forbidden is to go down to take the things out of his house. Extreme haste is enjoined; and being hindered by motives of selfishness or convenience is prohibited. There is probably an allusion to the flight of Lot from Sodom (comp. Luk 17:32).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Mat 24:17-19. Let him who is on the house-top not come down It is well known that the houses of the Jews, as well as those of the ancient Greeks and Romans, were flat on the top, for them to walk upon, and had usually stairs on the outside, by which they might ascend and descend without coming into the house. In the walled cities, these flat-roofed houses usually formed continued terraces from one end of the city to the other, which terraces terminated at the gates. The meaning therefore here is, Let not him who is walking on the house-top come down to take any thing out of his house; but let him instantly pursue his course along the tops of houses, and escape out of the city gate as fast as he possibly can. Neither let him which is in the field, &c. Our Saviour makes use of these expressions to intimate, that their flight must be as sudden and hasty as Lots was out of Sodom. And the Christians escaping just as they did was the more providential, because afterward all egress from the city was prevented. And wo unto them that are with child, &c. For such will not be in a condition to flee, neither will they be well able to endure the distress and hardships of the siege. This wo was sufficiently fulfilled in the cruel slaughters which were made both of the women and children, and particularly in that grievous famine which so miserably afflicted Jerusalem during the siege. See notes on Deu 28:53-57.