Luke 1:39-56  Historical Notes

40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43 "But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 "For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45 "Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.

50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with His arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.

54 He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,

55 As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever."

56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

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Historical Notes

- It is noteworthy that Luke alone recorded that Jesus coming into the world was heralded by the songs of Elizabeth, Mary, Zacharias, Simeon and the hymn of the angels. 

- Luke records the whole account of the history of the gospel of Jesus Christ from the very beginning.

- Elizabeth lived in the hill country of Judea. Since she was of the tribe of Levi, it may have been Hebron , a Levitical city (Josh 21:11).

- Elizabeth was in her old age and barren. According to the Jews it was a sign of God's displeasure to be barren and a reproach. 

- Elizabeth was older than Mary and the daughter of a priest.

- There were certain devoted people who were spiritually sensitive and were "waiting for the consolation of Israel" and praying for his appearance.

- Zacharias (Z'kharyah) was in old age and he and his wife Elizabeth (Elisheva) were both descendants of Aaron the ancient high priest. They were among those who truly observed the ceremonies and God's laws and were hoping in the coming of the Messiah. 

- When the angel mentioned to Mary about Elizabeth's pregnancy, Mary immediately journeyed to visit her cousin Elizabeth. We know this because The angel declared that Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant and when Mary came to stay with her she stayed for about 3 months. 

- There is no clear indication that Mary told anyone about her own pregnancy.

- Mary's journey from Nazareth to the village in the hill country south of Jerusalem was 97 miles to the south (about a five day journey in those days). 

- Elizabeth was bearing John the Baptist, who leaped in Elizabeth's womb by the Holy Spirit upon the visitation of Mary, which is a clear indication of John's ministry - to give glory and be a messenger to the Messiah.

- According to Jewish tradition an unborn infant can give a sign from inside the womb.

- "the mother of my Lord" refers to the mother of the Lord Messiah and there is no basis for the term "Mother of God" given to her centuries later. There is no room for the dogma that Mary was immaculately conceived or personally sinless.

- This song of Elizabeth is real poetry and the first of the New Testament songs. The first song of the New Testament was sung by a woman.

- It is noteworthy that Elizabeth immediately gives praise to the Lord and humbly acknowledges that a much greater honor has been bestowed upon Mary than upon herself who had been barren. Elizabeth shows no sign of jealousy. 

- Mary's song of praise is called the "magnificat" in the sections first word in the Latin Vulgate, Jerome's translation of the Bible into Latin around 400 A.D.

- Mary song is divided into 4 stanzas of 4 lines each, except the 3rd which has 6. (1) verses 47-48 (2) 49-50 (3) 51-53 (4) 54-55.

- Mary's song is Hebrew in thought and manner and totally made up from Old Testament quotations, giving them a higher application and deeper meaning. (verse 46 - Ps 34:2, verse 47 - Ps 35:9; verse 48 - 1 Sam 1:11; verse 49 - Ps 111:9; verse 50 - Ps 103:17; verse 51 - Ps 89:11; verse 52 - Job 12:19 and 5:11; verse 53 - 1 Sam 2:5 and Ps 107:9; verse 54 - Ps 98:3; verse 55 - Gen 17:7, 19 and Mic 7:20).

- The theme of praise here is that God is true to His promises. 

- Mary exalts the Lord for His power, His holiness, His mercy and His faithfulness.

- In Mary's song she calls God her "savior" which clearly indicates that she was a sinner, seeing that only sinners have need of a savior.

- Mary's song is modeled after that of Hannah (1 Sam 2:1-10) who also rejoiced in the promise of a son (Samuel). It is different in the fact that Hannah's song was a song of personal triumph over her enemies.

- "scattered the proud" is a Hebrew idiom used frequently in the Old Testament, Ex 15:6; Ps 98:1; Ps 136:12; Is 51:9.

- Filling the hungry and sending away the rich are spiritual terms. 

- Everything that Elizabeth and Mary said was historically true. 

- Mary stayed with Elizabeth for 3 months, the time John was born, then she returned to Nazareth.

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