2:22 Now 10 when the time came for their 11 purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary 12 brought Jesus 13 up to Jerusalem 14 to present him to the Lord
2:39 So 17 when Joseph and Mary 18 had performed 19 everything according to the law of the Lord, 20 they returned to Galilee, to their own town 21 of Nazareth. 22
1 tn Grk “according to the custom of the priesthood it fell to him by lot.” The order of the clauses has been rearranged in the translation to make it clear that the prepositional phrase κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς ἱερατείας (kata to eqo" th" Jierateia", “according to the custom of the priesthood”) modifies the phrase “it fell to him by lot” rather than the preceding clause.
2 tn This is an aorist participle and is temporally related to the offering of incense, not to when the lot fell.
3 tn Or “temple.” Such sacrifices, which included the burning of incense, would have occurred in the holy place according to the Mishnah (m. Tamid 1.2; 3.1; 5-7). A priest would have given this sacrifice, which was offered for the nation, once in one’s career. It would be offered either at 9 a.m. or 3 p.m., since it was made twice a day.
4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
5 tn Grk “behold.”
6 tn Traditionally, “handmaid”; Grk “slave woman.” Though δούλη (doulh) is normally translated “woman servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free woman serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times… in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v. δοῦλος). The most accurate translation is “bondservant,” sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος (doulos), in that it often indicates one who sells himself or herself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
7 tn Grk “let this be to me.”
8 sn The remark according to your word is a sign of Mary’s total submission to God’s will, a response that makes her exemplary.
9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
11 tc The translation follows most
tn Or “when the days of their purification were completed.” In addition to the textual problem concerning the plural pronoun (which apparently includes Joseph in the process) there is also a question whether the term translated “purification” (καθαρισμός, kaqarismo") refers to the time period prescribed by the Mosaic law or to the offering itself which marked the end of the time period (cf. NLT, “it was time for the purification offering”).
sn Exegetically the plural pronoun “their” creates a problem. It was Mary’s purification that was required by law, forty days after the birth (Lev 12:2-4). However, it is possible that Joseph shared in a need to be purified by having to help with the birth or that they also dedicated the child as a first born (Exod 13:2), which would also require a sacrifice that Joseph would bring. Luke’s point is that the parents followed the law. They were pious.
12 tn Grk “they”; the referents (Joseph and Mary) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
13 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
14 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
15 sn The offering of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, instead of a lamb, speaks of the humble roots of Jesus’ family – they apparently could not afford the expense of a lamb.
16 sn A quotation from Lev 12:8; 5:11 (LXX).
17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the topic.
18 tn Grk “when they”; the referents (Joseph and Mary) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
19 tn Or “completed.”
20 sn On the phrase the law of the Lord see Luke 2:22-23.
21 tn Or “city.”
22 map For location see Map1-D3; Map2-C2; Map3-D5; Map4-C1; Map5-G3.