Re: Gospel of John

Jim writes:
<< Take a look at John 5. John describes a pool "near the sheep gate" (and
gives the Aramaic name for it), says it is covered by five (not four or
three or six) "covered colonnades." I don't think you see description with
this kind of detail in any of the synoptics. >>

There are several other instances in John of the unnecessary detail being
that something was five. The two that come immediately to mind are the five
husbands of the Samaritan woman at the well and the five loaves of bread.
I've sometimes wondered if one ought to make any association between these
fives and the five books of Torah -- especially since they seem to involve
someone seeking with five and Jesus helping them out (the five porticos, or
"covered colonnades," "stoas," are access-points to a pool that is sought
for its healing). The nature of Jesus' help is most clear with the five
loaves of bread -- good food, no doubt, but not working for the hungry
multitude -- which are not destroyed or even truly transformed, really, but
made so abundant as to feed everyone.

(and two fish, Nevi'im, Kethuvim -- Prophets, Writings?)

-robbie
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Received on Fri Jul 25 02:41:21 2003