Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 2:44
But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among [their] kinsfolk and acquaintance.
44. went a day’s journey ] Probably to Beeroth, six miles north of Jerusalem. In the numerous and rejoicing caravans of kinsmen and fellow-countrymen relations are often separated without feeling any anxiety.
sought him ] The word implies anxious and careful search.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Supposing him to have been in the company – It may seem very remarkable that parents should not have been more attentive to their only son, and that they should not have been assured of his presence with them when they left Jerusalem; but the difficulty may be explained by the following considerations:
- In going to these great feasts, families and neighbors would join together, and form a large collection.
- It is not improbable that Jesus was with them when they were about to start from Jerusalem and were making preparations. Seeing him then, they might have been certain as to his presence.
- A part of the company might have left before the others, and Joseph and Mary may have supposed that he was with them, until they overtook them at night and ascertained their mistake.
Kinsfolk – Relatives.
Acquaintances – Neighbors who had gone up with them in the same company to Jerusalem.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Luk 2:44-45
And they sought Him among their kinsfolk
Out of company with Jesus
It seems scarcely credible that that fond mother–that model of what a mother ought to be–could have gone a whole days journey without Jesus; but she did.
And one can understand too how she fell into this error. She had a great many things to think about. She had been meeting a good many friends at the feast. Those were stirring times. People had been coming up from all parts of Judaea and Galilee with tidings of an upheaving in the minds of the people and a general expectation was pervading the whale population; a hope of approaching liberty; a desire to break the tyrant thrall of Rome. So, doubtless, there was a good deal to talk about, and no doubt the Virgin Mary was deeply interested in what she heard. Joseph, too, would have a good deal to communicate to those with whom he came in contact. So they wore very busy, and very interested; and in their business and in their thronging interest they forgot the absence of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they went for a whole days journey concluding that He was with them when He was net. Let us ask ourselves, How is it that Christians lose the sense of the fellowship of Jesus? What are the dangers we have most to guard against in this respect?
I. The danger arising from INTERCOURSE WITH OUR FELLOW-MEN.
II. The danger arising from GOSSIPING CONVERSATION. I do not for a moment mean to charge this against the blessed mother of our Lord. At the same time, the circumstances of the case suggest such a possibility, and the possibility suggests a lesson to ourselves.
III. The danger of losing the consciousness of the presence of Christ IN RELIGIOUS INTERCOURSE, is a danger, I believe, that specially belongs to this day.
IV. The danger OF LOSING CHRIST IN HIS SERVICE. Work for Christ has its own peculiar dangers. (W. H. M. H. Aitken, M. A.)
Religious supposition
Supposing Him to have been of the company–what a pity they did not make sure! Have we got beyond a slowuncertain, I hope, I suppose Jesus is with me? If you must suppose, suppose He is not with you. Suppose there is no home and no welcome for you at the journeys end? Of whatever else you may be uncertain, be sure about this. Where did they lose Him? Not in Nazareth, but in the city. It is sadly easy to lose Christ in a great city with all its pleasures and blandishments. This city is the sepulchre of many a young mans piety, the end of many a parents hopes. Jesus is lost since you came to the city, and you are likely to be lost too, unless you find Him again. They lost Him at a feast. Where the company of Jesus is put in peril stop from the feast. They lost Him in a crowd. How many miss Jesus in the noise and bustle! Be resolute to have your quiet hours. Seek first the kingdom of heaven. But they turned back and sought Him. Jesus is lost and Jesus must be found. Have you sought Him? Like Joseph and Mary, your way lies in another direction. Break away from everything. Go after Jesus until you find Him. (J. JacksonWray.)
Supposing Him to have been in the company
I. THIS WAS A MOST NATURAL SUPPOSITION.
1. Christs parents did not expect to find Him wandering alone. He loved society. Jesus was not one whose company would be shunned because of His ill-manners; rather would it be courted because of the sweetness of His disposition. He would not make Himself disagreeable, and then crown that disagreeableness by stealing away from those whom He had vexed. They knew the sweetness of their dear childs character and the sociableness of His disposition, and, therefore, they supposed Him to have been in the company.
2. They never suspected that He would be found in any wrong place. We never look for Jesus where a question of morals might be raised, for He is undefiled. Let His example be followed by all in this.
II. THIS SUPPOSITION BROUGHT THEM GREAT SORROW. From this I gather that, with regard to the Lord Jesus, we ought to leave nothing as a matter of supposition. Do not suppose anything about Jesus at all. Do not suppose anything about His character, His doctrine, or His work; go in for certainty on such points.
1. Do not suppose Him to be in your hearts. Outward ceremonies convey no grace to graceless persons.
2. Do not ever suppose that Christ is in our assemblies because we meet in this house. Christ is not present where He is not honoured. All your architecture, music, learning, eloquence, are of small account; Jesus may be absent when all these things are present in profusion, and then your public worship will only be the magnificent funeral of religion, but the life of God will be far away. Our question every Sunday morning ought to be, What think ye; will He come to the feast? for if He does not come to the feast it will be the mockery of a festival, but no bread will be on the table for hungry souls.
3. Let us not take it for granted that the Lord Jesus is necessarily with us in our Christian labours. Do we not too often go out to do good without special prayer, imagining that Jesus must surely be with us as a matter of course? Perhaps we thus conclude because He has been with us so long, or because we feel ourselves fully equipped for the occasion, or because we do not even think whether He is with us or not. This is perilous. If Jesus is not with us, we toil all the night and take nothing; but if Jesus is with us,
He teaches us how to cast the net, and a great multitude of fishes are taken.
III. THE SUPPOSITION made by these two good people MAY INSTRUCT US. This is for the children. Jesus is here an example to them, for He was at this time a child. Suppose He had been in the company returning to Nazareth? How would He have behaved Himself?
1. I am sure when the whole company sang a psalm, He would have been among the sweetest singers. No inattention or weariness in Him when God was to be praised.
2. I feel persuaded that Jesus would have been found in that company listening to those who talked of holy things. Especially would He have been eager to hear explanations of what He had seen in the Temple. He would have been anxious to share with the grown-up people all the solemn thoughts of the day.
3. I feel sure also that if He had been in the company going home, He would have been the most obliging, helpful, pleasing child in all the company; if anybody had needed to have a burden carried, He would have been the first to offer; if any kindly deed could be done, He would be first in doing it.
IV. SUPPOSING HIM TO BE IN OUR COMPANY IN ALL HIS GRACIOUS INFLUENCE, what then?
1. How happy will such company be!
2. How united His people will all become!
3. How holy they will all grow! How teachable; how lively I how earnest; how confident.
V. JESUS HAS BEEN IN THE COMPANY, WHETHER WE HAVE SEEN HIM OR NOT. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The disappearance of Jesus
Every child is a treasure to the heart of an affectionate parent; but the Holy Child Jesus must have been so sacred and precious a treasure to His mother and her husband that one wonders how they could ever have lost sight of Him. Perhaps it may have happened in this way: when they were about to return, they would doubtless give Him notice that they were going home, and would expect Him to follow. But, in the hurry of packing and starting, they would necessarily take their eyes off from Him for some time, and then He would find His opportunity to withdraw to the Temple. It must be remembered that hundreds of other pilgrims would be on the move homeward at the same moment. All those who lived north of Jerusalem, forming an immense caravan, would start with Joseph and Mary, and go by the same road. This would create great confusion; and, amidst a general lading of mules and asses and a general preparation for the days journey, a single child might be easily missed. Moreover, we are told by some writers that it was the custom in these pilgrimages for all the men to travel in one company by themselves, and all the women in another, the boys travelling, as it might happen, either with their father or their mother. If this was the case, it is easy to understand how neither our Lords mother nor her husband were made uneasy by missing Him. St. Joseph would say, He is with His mother, no doubt; and the blessed Virgin would say, Doubtless Joseph is taking care of Him. (Dean Goulburn.)
A lost Christ
Some years ago an institution for the blind was erected in one of our large towns. The committee put their wise heads together, and decided that as the building was for the blind, for those who could not see–there was only waste of money and no reason in going to the expense ofwindows. Scientific ventilation and heating was provided, but no windows, because–as the committee very logically put it–it was no use in the world providing light for those who cannot see it. Accordingly, the new Blind Asylum was inaugurated and opened, and the poor sightless patients settled into the house. Things did not go well with them, however. They began to sicken, one after another; a great languor fell on them, they felt always distressed and restless, craving for something, they hardly knew what; and after one or two had died, and all were ill, the committee sat on the matter, and resolved to open windows. Then the sun poured in, and the white faces recovered colour, and the flagging vital energies revived, the depressed spirits recovered, and health and rest returned. I think this is not unlike the condition of a vast number of people. Christ Jesus is the Sun of the soul, the Light of the world. It is He who gives health and rest to the heart, and fills the soul with that peace which passes mans understanding. But there are a good number who, in their wisdom, think they can do without Him; they are the wise committee men sitting on their own case, and building up walls to shut them selves in and shut Him out. They cannot see Jesus, the light of the world; therefore, they can live without Him. Have you ever noticed what an expression of peace there is on the faces of those whose walk is with God, as contrasted with the unrest that characterizes the faces of those living without God in the world–not necessarily bad people, but living chiefly for the world, in a windowless asylum of their own construction.
I. A great number who do not realize their unrest. So engrossed in daily work, so full of hopes and schemes, they can think of nothing else. Fond of the bustle and excitement of active life. DO not know they are travelling along the road of life without Christ; do not as yet feel their loss and need of Him.
II. They become uneasy. Becoming aware that all is not quite right, they look for what they want in the wrong place. They seek distraction, when it is rest they need, and pleasure instead of peace. Then they give themselves up to tittle-tattle with kinsfolk and acquaintance, and try to find happiness in society. But it will not do. Jesus Christ is not there, and it is He they need.
III. The last stage is not taken by all; it is well for those who do take it. Christ is found in the Temple. Enthroned on His altar, made known in the breaking of the bread, He waits to enter into, refresh, strengthen, and give perfect peace to the hungry soul, weary with the unsatisfying food of the world. (S. Baring-Gould, M. A.)
Seeking the lost Christ
I. WHERE CHRIST WAS LOST.
1. In the city.
2. At a feast.
3. In a crowd.
II. How AND WHERE HE WAS SOUGHT.
1. Immediately the loss was realized.
2. Sorrowfully.
3. In the Temple.
4. With perseverance and continuity.
III. HOW THIS SEARCH WAS REWARDED.
1. Christ was found.
2. Christ spoke Divine words to His parents.
3. Christ went back with them to Nazareth, and was more precious to them than ever. (E. D. Solomon.)
Easy to lose Christ
Perhaps our Lords parents had been a little to blame in ever taking their eyes off Him. Perhaps they had been too eager and careful about their homeward journey, and not mindful enough of the Holy Child. If so, they were punished by the dreadful anxiety which they must have felt in looking for Him, and by the still more painful void which His absence would make in their family circle. When people are not careful to keep the Lord with them, He easily escapes. A little heedlessness, a little want of watchfulness, a little more eagerness and hurry about worldly things than there is any necessity for–and the Divine Presence slips away. We may have really spoken to Him in our prayers, or in church, and have been comforted by the thought that we have done so. And then we may dismiss altogether the thought of His presence, and make no effort to call it back. We may forget that His eye is upon us, and do and say things in a fit of temper and excitement which we could not do and say if we felt He was looking on. And then we shall be punished by having to search for Him with labour and dryness of spirit. We must try to live in His presence, to be always conscious of it, even when not directly thinking of Him. This is the great secret of perfection (Gen 17:1). Great peace and quietness of heart is to be found in always having our eye upon Christ. (Dean Goulburn.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 44. Supposing him to have been in the company] Some have supposed that the men and women marched in separate companies on these occasions, which is very likely; and that sometimes the children kept company with the men, sometimes with the women. This might have led to what otherwise seems to have been inexcusable carelessness in Joseph and Mary. Joseph, not seeing Jesus in the men’s company, might suppose he was with his mother in the women’s company; and Mary, not seeing him with her, might imagine he was with Joseph.
Went a day’s journey] Knowing what a treasure they possessed, how could they be so long without looking on it? Where were the bowels and tender solicitude of the mother? Let them answer this question who can.
And they sought him] , They earnestly sought him. They are now both duly affected with a sense of their great loss and great negligence.
Kinsfolk and acquaintance.] Those of the same family and neighbourhood went up to Jerusalem together on such occasions.
I have frequently been reminded, says Mr. Ward, when reading this history, of the crowds going to some place in Bengal, to an idol feast. Men, women, and children, in large companies, may be seen travelling together, with their bedding, &c., on their heads. They cook and prepare their victuals in some shady place near a town, where they can purchase the necessaries they want, and, after remaining two or three days at the festival, return in companies as they went.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
44. sought him among their kinsfolkand acquaintancesOn these sacred journeys, whole villages anddistricts travelled in groups together, partly for protection, partlyfor company; and as the well-disposed would beguile the tediousnessof the way by good discourse, to which the child Jesus would be nosilent listener, they expect to find Him in such a group.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But they supposing him to have been in the company,…. That travelled together into the same parts, having been, as they, at Jerusalem to keep the feast:
went a day’s journey; either before they missed him; or if they missed him sooner, yet they went on inquiring for him in the company, until they were come a day’s journey before they thought, or, at least, determined on going back to Jerusalem. The bounds of a day’s journey from Jerusalem are said to be w Elath on the south, and Akrabba on the north; elsewhere x it is, Elathon the north, and Akrabbaon the south, Lud, or Lydda, on the west, and Jordan on the east; wherefore, as Galilee lay north of Jerusalem, the bound of this day’s journey must be, according to the Misna, Akrabba, and, according to the Talmud, Elath. Nazareth was three days journey from Jerusalem y: according to the Jewish writers z, a day’s journey was ten “parsas”, or large miles, Which were forty lesser miles; and which, they say, is a middling man’s walk, on a middling day, as in the months of Tisri, or Nisan, when days and nights were alike: and it was in the latter of those months, on the twenty second day of it, that Joseph and Mary set out on their journey; see Ex 12:18 but it cannot be thought that women and children should be able to travel so many miles a day, and therefore this day’s journey, very likely, was shorter:
and they sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance; when they came to the end of their day’s journey, where they took up their lodging for that night: and as the company was large, they doubtless lay at different houses; wherefore they inquired in every house, where their relations and acquaintance lay, after their child Jesus, where they might most reasonably expect he would be: and so, in a spiritual sense, when souls have lost sight of Christ, of whom should they inquire concerning him? and where should they expect to hear of him, but among their spiritual kindred and friends, and who also are related to Christ? see So 5:9.
w Misn. Maaser Sheni, c. 3. sect. 2. x T. Bab. Betza, fol. 5. 1. y David de Pomis Lex. Heb. p. 141. z T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 2. 3. T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 93. 2. & 94. & Tosaphta in ib. fol. 11. 2. Seder Tephillot, fol. 144. 1. Ed. Basil.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In the company ( ). The caravan going together on the road or way (, ), a journey in company, then by metonymy the company itself. A common Greek word (Plutarch, Strabo, etc.). The women usually went ahead and the men followed. Joseph may have thought Jesus was with Mary and Mary that he was with Joseph. “The Nazareth caravan was so long that it took a whole day to look through it” (Plummer).
They sought for him ( ). Imperfect active. Common Greek verb. Note force of . They searched up and down, back and forth, a thorough search and prolonged, but in vain.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
The company [] . From sun, with, and oJdov, the way. The company that shared the journey.
Went a day’s journey. Before they missed him.
They sought [] . From ajna, from the bottom up, and zhtew, to seek. Thus implying a thorough search : they looked for him up and down.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But they, supposing him” (nomisantes de auton) “But because they were supposing him,” considering or taking for granted, by general practice and schedule for their departure.
2) “To have been in the company,” (einai en te sunadia) “To have been in the colleague company,” the caravan of friends and relatives, returned to Galilee, as a caravan, for protection and security.
3) “Went a day’s journey;” (elthon hemeras hodon) “Went a distance of a day’s journey,” about ten miles north of Jerusalem, to a place near Ramallah today.
4) “And they sought him among his kinsfolk and acquaintance.” (kai anezetoun auton en thois sungeneusin kai tois gnostois) “And they sought after him among their relatives and acquaintances,” as night came on, and as the family made plans to lay or sleep together in close proximity.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
44. And thinking that he was in the company Many passages of Scripture show plainly, that those who came from a distance, at the festivals, to worship in the temple, were accustomed to travel in companies. There is no reason, therefore, to wonder that, on the first day, Joseph and Mary were less anxious about the child; and their subsequent conduct shows that this was not owing to indolence or carelessness.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(44) Supposing him to have been in the company.The company was probably a large one, consisting of those who had come up to keep the Passover from Nazareth and the neighbouring villages. It is not certain, but in the nature of things it is sufficiently probable, that the boys of such a company congregated together, and travelled apart from the others.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
44. In the company The caravans in which the passover companies went for the purpose of protection against beasts and robbers must have been each large, composed of many parties, clans, and kindreds. Jesus might easily therefore have been not missed until the end of the first day.
Went a day’s journey
“The usual rate of traveling in the East is three miles an hour; and as the number of hours devoted to traveling rarely exceeds six or eight hours, the distance of an ordinary day’s journey may be considered as twenty or twenty-five miles. The first day, however, on starting on an expedition forms an exception to this rule: on that day it is not customary to go more than six or eight miles, and the tents are pitched for the first night’s encampment almost within sight of the place from which the journey commences. The only reason I heard assigned for starting thus late and stopping so early was, that it furnished an opportunity, if anything should prove to be forgotten, to return to the city and supply the deficiency. ‘We halted early,’ says Mr. Beldam, ‘according to custom, the distance being but thirteen miles from Cairo, in order to muster our forces, and ascertain that all things were provided for a longer flight.’
“The parents of Jesus are said to have traveled a day’s journey on their return, without knowing what had become of their son; they were ignorant whether he was in the company or not, and as if indifferent respecting his safety, make no inquiry in regard to him till the close of the day. Certain critics (it is one of Strauss’s objections) have represented this as so improbable [as well as careless in his parents] and unnatural as to throw discredit upon the truth of the entire narrative. But if the first day’s journey occupied two or three hours only, the difficulty disappears. They had reason to suppose that he was with some of the relatives or friends who were traveling with them; they could act naturally enough under the impression for so short a time, and would have no occasion for anxiety until his continued absence, when they came to halt, aroused their fears.” Hackett’s Bib. Ill., pp. 15-19.
Tradition of no great value fixes upon El Bireh, about three miles north of Jerusalem, as the spot where the present caravan stopped; inasmuch as this is the ordinary first station for the night with parties traveling north. But says Hackett, in his Eastern Travels, (p. 19,) “What route the parents of Jesus actually took on that occasion we cannot decide. The Galilean caravans, in order to avoid Samaria, usually crossed the ford of the Jordan near Bethshean, now Beisan, into Peraea, then passed down on the east side of Jordan, recrossed the river near Jericho, and ascended to Jerusalem through the desert which lies between the two cities. (See note on Joh 2:12.) A company returning to Galilee by the same route would be apt to stop, for the first night, near the eastern foot of the Mount of Olives; a ride at foot pace of not more than two hours. They would not be likely to go further the first day, because that would oblige them to encamp in a hostile region.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance, and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.’
As both His parents clearly assumed that He was with them, presumably with his cousins, neither was worried until after a day’s journey when they settled down to camp for the night, and at that stage were unable to find Him. But even then they were not too worried. They would think that He must be somewhere among their kinsfolk. It was only when they still could not find Him they must have realised with horror that He had been left behind, and have made straight back to Jerusalem, looking for Him.
Meanwhile Jesus continued to listen to the great teachers, and probably every now and then took a quick snooze in one of the porticoes of the Temple. He does not appear to have been worried, and possibly not even to have considered that He was being missed. After all His parents knew that He could be trusted. And His view was that surely if they had wanted Him they would have sought Him in the Temple, where they ought to know that He would be. (He could not conceive of anything else). He was still only a child, and was possibly not used to the Feasts, and the Temple may well have continued to be so crowded that He did not realise that the Feast was over. They were exciting days and He did not want to miss the opportunities they presented. This would serve to confirm that He knew that His parents would not be worrying when He did not go back to them at nights.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Luk 2:44. Supposing him to have been in the company Several families then travelled together, as they do at present on such occasions, in companies, or caravans, as they are called in the East. In these companies it was not unusual for persons to leave their own families, and mix with others, for the sake of conversation in the day-time; but at night they always joined their own families again. The parents of Jesus therefore supposing him to have been among their relations, were not solicitous about him in the day; but not finding him at night, they became anxious on account of his absence; and thus having spent one day on their journey, they reached Jerusalem on the second, and spent the third in searching after him there. See on Luk 2:49. Grotius, and Shaw’s Travels, Preface, p. 9.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
Ver. 44. Sought him among their kinsfolk ] They knew him to be of a disposition not strange and stoic, but sweet and sociable. Let not us stye up ourselves in a stern austerity, but run into the company of those now, that must be our everlasting companions in heaven.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
44. ] ., the company forming the caravan , or band of travellers; all who came from the same district travelling together for security and company.
. . ] The interpretation that ‘ they went a day’s journey, seeking him ,’ is simply absurd: for they would have turned back sooner: a few minutes might have sufficed for the search. It was not till they laid up for the night that they missed him, as at that time ( ) they would naturally expect his return to their own tent. Olshausen remarks, that being accustomed to his thoughtfulness and obedience, they were free from anxiety, till they discovered He really was not in the company.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 2:44 . , in the company journeying together ( , , here only in N. T.), a journeying together, then those who so journey. A company would be made up of people from the same neighbourhood, well acquainted with one another. , a day’s journey. It is quite conceivable how they should have gone on so long without missing the boy, without much or any blame to the parents; not negligence, but human infirmity at worst. , : kinsfolk and acquaintances. Had there been less acquaintance and intimacy there had been less risk of losing the child. Friends take up each other’s attention, and members of the same family do not stick so dose together, and the absence of one excites no surprise.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
supposing = surely reckoning. See note on Luk 3:23.
the company: i.e. in the caravan.
a day’s journey. Probably to Beeroth, about six miles north of Jerusalem. Now Bireh.
sought = searched up and down.
among. Greek. en. App-101.
and = and among.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
44.] ., the company forming the caravan, or band of travellers;-all who came from the same district travelling together for security and company.
. .] The interpretation that they went a days journey, seeking him, is simply absurd: for they would have turned back sooner: a few minutes might have sufficed for the search. It was not till they laid up for the night that they missed him, as at that time ( ) they would naturally expect his return to their own tent. Olshausen remarks, that being accustomed to his thoughtfulness and obedience, they were free from anxiety, till they discovered He really was not in the company.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 2:44. , supposing) Hence it may be gathered, that Jesus was watched by His parents, in a manner not very unlike that in which many parents are wont to watch (look after) their children, very often letting them go out of their sight.- ) So the LXX. , 1Ki 19:1; 1Ki 19:4.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
in: Psa 42:4, Psa 122:1-4, Isa 2:3
Reciprocal: Luk 2:46 – after
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4
It was the next day before the parents of Jesus observed that he was not in their family unit. They next made a search for him among acquaintances and relatives but did not find him.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
[They went a day’s journey.] the first ordinary day’s journey from Jerusalem towards Galilee, was to Neapolis, of old called Sychem, distant thirty miles. But was this the day’s journey that Joseph and the company that travelled along wit him made at this time? The place where Christ was first missed by his parents is commonly shewed at this day to travellers, much nearer Jerusalem, by the name of Beere; but ten miles from that city. You may believe those that shew it, as you think fit.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Luk 2:44. In the company. The band of fellow-travellers. These caravans were often large, and usually made up of those from the same district.
A days journey. During the day no anxiety would be felt respecting so obedient a child, but at night he would be expected to rejoin His parents.
Kinsfolk and acquaintance. This was natural, and shows the composition of the caravan.
Luk 2:45. Turned back to Jerusalem, seeking for him, i.e., on the way as they returned.