Matthew Poole and continuators on John 5:2

2 Now there is at Hierusalem by the sheep market a pool , which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda , having five porches .

We read in Scripture of Sheep-gate in Hierusalem, Neh. 3.1. There was also a Market for Sheep, and other Cattel, Deut. 14.26. Some therefore add Market, others add Gate to the word in the Greek, signifying Sheep:

Near to this Gate or Market, there was a Pool, [non-Latin text not transcribed], some Translate it a Fish-pool, others (more properly) a place to wash, or to Swim in (the word deriveth from a Verb that signifies to Swim.) They say, there were two such Pools within the compass of the Mount on which the Temple stood, the one Eastward, called the upper Pool, 2 Kings 18.17. The other Westward, near to the Sheep-gate. The one was called Bethesda, the other, the Pool of Siloam, by the Kings Garden, Nehem. 3.15. mentioned also by our Evangelist, Ch. 9.7. They say, the Waters of these Pools were supplied from a Fountain called Siloam ▪ which was not always full of water, but the water bubled up in it at certain times with a great noise, coming (as was thought) through hollow places of the Earth, and Quarries of hard stones. These Waters of Shiloah are mentioned, Isa. 8.6. and said to go soft[illegible: 1 letter]y; from [illegible: 1 word] place, these Waters are concluded a [illegible: 1 span] the Kingd[illegible: 1 letter]m of David, and of Christ. This being admitted, it is not to be wondred that they had that Healing Vertue given unto them (as some judge) just about the coming of Christ; for it should appear by Ch. 9.7. that the Pool of Siloam, as well as that of Bethesda had so; for in former times it is thought to have been of use chiefly to wash Garments in, and Sacrifices when they were slain. Some wi[illegible: 1 letter]l have them to have derived their Healing Vertue from thence, but that is vain, their Healing Vertue was doubtless derived from the Lord that healeth us.

This Pool in the Hebrew was called Bethesda, which some Interpret, The House of pouring out, because as some fancy, the Blood of the Sacrifices was there poured out (but that is a great mistake, for that was to be poured out at the Altar) or because Rain-water (as some think) was poured into it; or (which is more probable) because waters were poured into it out of the Conduit mentioned 2 Kings 20.20. But others Interpret it, The house of Grace, Mercy, &c. because of Gods great goodness shewed the People, in giving this Healing Vertue to these Waters.

The five Porches belonging to this Pool seem to have been five Apartments for Impotent men t[illegible: 1 letter] walk in, or rest themselves in, when they came to wash themselves in the Pool.

Marginal references: Or [illegible: 1 word]