John Gill, on John 11:18

“(Now Bethania was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off.)”

“Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem,.... Which was a reason why them were so many of the Jews come there to condole the two sisters upon the death of their brother; and by this means the following miracle became more known there: it was about fifteen furlongs off; that is, about two miles, for seven furlongs and a half made a Jewish mile, as appears from one of their canons (c), which runs thus: "they do not spread nets for doves, except it be distant from an habitable place, , "thirty furlongs";'' which the commentators say (d) are "four miles": and still more expressly it is said (e), that "between Jerusalem and Zuck, (the place where the scape goat was had,) there were ten tents, and ninety furlongs, "seven and a half to every mile".'' Hence a furlong was called one seventh and a half of a mile (f), which was 266 cubits, and two thirds of one. (c) Misn. Bava Kama, c. 7. sect. 7. (d) Maimon. Jarchi, & Bartenora in ib. (e) Misn. Yoma, c. 6. sect. 4. (f) T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 33. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Rotzeach, c. 13. sect. 6.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.