John 7:2
2. feast of tabernacles . . . at hand—This was the last of the three annual festivals, celebrated on the fifteenth of the seventh month (September). (See Le 23:33, &c.; De 16:13, &c.; Ne 8:14-18).
John 7:10
10. then went he . . . not openly—not "in the (caravan) company" [MEYER]. See on Lu 2:44.
as it were in secret—rather, "in a manner secretly"; perhaps by some other route, and in a way not to attract notice.John 10:22-23
22, 23. it was . . . the feast of the dedication—celebrated rather more than two months after the feast of tabernacles, during which intermediate period our Lord seems to have remained in the neighborhood of Jerusalem. It was instituted by Jude Maccabeus, to commemorate the purification of the temple from the profanations to which it had been subjected by Antiochus Epiphanes 165 B.C., and kept for eight days, from the twenty-fifth Chisleu (December), the day on which Judas began the first joyous celebration of it (1 Maccabees 4:52,56,59; and JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 7.7.7).
it was winter—implying some inclemency. Therefore,23. Jesus walked . . . in Solomon's porch—for shelter. This portico was on the east side of the temple, and JOSEPHUS says it was part of the original structure of Solomon [Antiquities, 20.9.7].