Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 1:23

23 And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

While the Priest was in the holy Place, the People were in tha[illegible: 1 letter] p[illegible: 1 letter]rt of the Temple called the Court of Israel, or the Court of the Pe[illegible: 1 letter]ple, praying, when he had done, he came out, and blessed them according to the Law, Num. 6.23, 24. where is the form of Blessing, which he used, for this, the People waited before they went home. Whether the Angels Discourse with Zacharias was longer, or his Amazement at the Vision made him stay longer then the Priest was wont to stay, it is uncertain; but so he did, and when he came out, he was not able to pronounce the Blessing, nor to speak at all, only he beckneth to them, by which the People judged, that he had seen some Vision. Yet Dumbness being none of those bodily defects, for which by the Law they were to be removed from the Priests Office, nor having any great Work in which he used his Tongue during his Ministration, which was more the work of the Hands, he accomplished the Days he was to Minister, and then departed to his own House, for in the Days of their Ministration they had their Lodgings in Buildings appertaining to the Temple.