(2)At the rising of the sun.--Literally, when the sun had risen. There seems at first a slight discrepancy between this and St. Matthew's "while it was yet dark." A morning haze, however, or the partial continuance of the gloom which had shrouded the city on the previous day, may well be thought of as harmonizing the two accounts.
Verse 2. - And very early on the first day of the week (λιάν πρωί' τῇ μιᾶ τῶν σαββάτων), they come (ἔρχονται - not "they came," St. Mark is fond of the graphic present - to the tomb when the sun was risen. They bought the spices that they needed on the Saturday evening, after the sabbath was past; and then set out early the next morning, reaching the tomb when the sun was risen.
16:1-8 Nicodemus brought a large quantity of spices, but these good women did not think that enough. The respect others show to Christ, should not hinder us from showing our respect. And those who are carried by holy zeal, to seek Christ diligently, will find the difficulties in their way speedily vanish. When we put ourselves to trouble and expense, from love to Christ, we shall be accepted, though our endeavours are not successful. The sight of the angel might justly have encouraged them, but they were affrighted. Thus many times that which should be matter of comfort to us, through our own mistake, proves a terror to us. He was crucified, but he is glorified. He is risen, he is not here, not dead, but alive again; hereafter you will see him, but you may here see the place where he was laid. Thus seasonable comforts will be sent to those that lament after the Lord Jesus. Peter is particularly named, Tell Peter; it will be most welcome to him, for he is in sorrow for sin. A sight of Christ will be very welcome to a true penitent, and a true penitent is very welcome to a sight of Christ. The men ran with all the haste they could to the disciples; but disquieting fears often hinder us from doing that service to Christ and to the souls of men, which, if faith and the joy of faith were strong, we might do.
And very early in the morning, the first day of the week,.... See Gill on Matthew 28:1.
They came to the sepulchre at the rising of the sun; of the sun of righteousness, as Mr. Mede observes; or rather, of the natural sun: for though it was dark when they set out, and when it dawned towards the first day, yet by that time that they all got to the sepulchre, the sun was rising; the Jews say (g), that
"from the ascending of the morning, or break of day, until the sun rises, is an hour and a half.''
And so much time may very well be allowed the women, from their setting out, to their coming to the sepulchre. Moreover, they say (h), that
"from the hind of the morning, to the time the east is enlightened, a man may walk four miles, and from the time that the east is enlightened, , "until the sun rises", four miles.''
But women must not be thought to walk so fast: let it be observed, that Christ, who is called the hind of the morning, Psalm 22:1 (title, "Aijeleth Shahar"), and the morning star, Revelation 22:16, rose at this time.
They came to the sepulchre at the rising of the sun; of the sun of righteousness, as Mr. Mede observes; or rather, of the natural sun: for though it was dark when they set out, and when it dawned towards the first day, yet by that time that they all got to the sepulchre, the sun was rising; the Jews say (g), that
"from the ascending of the morning, or break of day, until the sun rises, is an hour and a half.''
And so much time may very well be allowed the women, from their setting out, to their coming to the sepulchre. Moreover, they say (h), that
"from the hind of the morning, to the time the east is enlightened, a man may walk four miles, and from the time that the east is enlightened, , "until the sun rises", four miles.''
But women must not be thought to walk so fast: let it be observed, that Christ, who is called the hind of the morning, Psalm 22:1 (title, "Aijeleth Shahar"), and the morning star, Revelation 22:16, rose at this time.
(g) Piske Tosaphot in Pesach. art. 44. (h) T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 2. 3. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 50. fol. 45. 2.