Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 2:38

38 And she coming in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

God took a care that our Saviours Nativity should be fully attested. To the Testimony of the Angels, the Wise-men, the Shepherds, Simeon here is added another. It is that of Anna who is described here by her Tribe, and by her Father. She was of the Tribe of Aser, one of the meanest Tribes, and of those Ten Tribes that were carried into the Captivity of Assyria having before made a Defection (under the Conduct of Ieroboam, both from the House of David, and from the true Worship of God. But tho the Generality did so, yet many particular Persons removed, to injoy the true Worship of God, and joyned themselves to Iudah, Ier. 50.4. it was prophecyed, that the Children of Israel should come, they, and the Children of Judah together going, and Weeping to seek the Lord their God. What her Father Phanuel was, we read not, she is also further said to be a Prophetess. Such there were amongst the Jews, we read of Deborah, Miriam, and Huldah, to whom King I[illegible: 1 letter]siah sent. They were called Prophets, and Prophetesses who revealed the Will of God unto the People, but in the Old Testament it most generall signifyed, such as God inabled to foretell things which were to come. The Spirit of Prophecy had much failed amongst the Jews [illegible: 1 letter]or four hundred years before Christ, about Christs coming it began to revive. This Woman seems to have been upward of a hundred years old, if we account the eighty four years here mentioned from her Widowhood, not so, if we count them from her Birth. She was but seven years Married, all the rest of her life she had spent in Widow-hood. S[illegible: 1 letter]e departed not from the Temple Night or Day. That is, she was frequently there, giving up her self wholly to Religious Exercises. Prayer and Fasting, that she might be more fit for Prayer. This Woman coming in at that instant, where Simeon took up Christ in his Arms, &c. gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to such as she knew in Ierusalem, who looked for the Redemption of Israel. There is no place where God hath had a Name, but how ever it be Corrupted, and Debauched, hath a number, that keep close to God. God in Ahabs time had seven thousand in Israel. And in this most Corrupt time, there was a Simeon ▪ and an Anna, and also others who had a true Notion and Expectation of the Messiah, and these the holy Ghost taketh more notice of then of all the Iewish Doctors, all the Scribes and Pharis[illegible: 1 letter]es, whose Names are rolled, while what these Persons said, and did shall remain for a Memorial of them, wherever the Gospel shall be Preached to the end of the World.

Marginal references: Mar. 15.43. Ver. 25.44.; Or, Israel.