Luke 19:12

19:12 Therefore he said, “A nobleman ¹  went to a distant country to receive ²  for himself a kingdom and then return. ³ 

Luke 19:14

19:14 But his citizens ⁴  hated ⁵  him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man ⁶  to be king ⁷  over us!’

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¹ tn Grk “a man of noble birth” or “a man of noble status” (L&N 87.27).

² sn Note that the receiving of the kingdom takes place in the far country. This suggests that those in the far country recognize and acknowledge the king when his own citizens did not want him as king (v. 14; cf. John 1:11-12).

³ sn The background to this story about the nobleman who went…to receive for himself a kingdom had some parallels in the area’s recent history: Archelaus was appointed ethnarch of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea in 4 b.c., but the people did not like him. Herod the Great also made a similar journey to Rome where he was crowned King of Judea in 40 b.c., although he was not able to claim his kingdom until 37 b.c.

⁴ tn Or “subjects.” Technically these people were not his subjects yet, but would be upon his return. They were citizens of his country who opposed his appointment as their king; later the newly-appointed king will refer to them as his “enemies” (v. 27).

⁵ tn The imperfect is intense in this context, suggesting an ongoing attitude.

⁶ tn Grk “this one” (somewhat derogatory in this context).

⁷ tn Or “to rule.”