12 The day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said to him, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and lodge, and get food, for we are here in a deserted place."
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Day began to wear away - To decline, or as it drew near toward evening.
Send the multitude away - See this miracle explained at large, on the parallel places, Matthew 14:15-21 (note); Mark 6:36-44 (note).
When the day began to wear away,.... Or "to decline", as the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions; or "to incline", as the Syriac; that is, as the Ethiopic version renders it, "when the sun was declining" towards the "horizon" and was almost set; or "when the evening time was come", as the Persic version:
then came the twelve; that is, "the disciples", as the Persic version; or "his disciples", as the Syriac: and
said unto him, send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about; the place where they were, round about the city of Bethsaida, the several adjacent houses in the fields, villages, towns, and cities:
and lodge, and get victuals; where they might have lodging for that night, it being too far for them to reach their habitations that evening; and also that they might provide themselves with proper and sufficient food, which was not to be had in the place where they were:
for we are here in a desert place; which afforded no conveniency for lodging, nor any supply of food.
*More commentary available at chapter level.