The quantity of wine made by Christ on this occasion has been the subject of some hostile criticism, as though it were an invitation to excessive drinking. But (1) there is no evidence that any more wine was created than was used. Whether it was changed in the stone jars, or as it was carried to the guests, does not appear; (2) in Palestine, a wine-growing and wine-consuming country, where it is not merely _a_ beverage, but _the_ beverage of the common people, four or five barrels of wine would not seem so extraordinary a supply as it would to us, nor would it produce any such effect in the consumption as an equal amount of the ordinary wines of to-day; (3) it is God’s way to pour out his bounty, not only in abundance, but in superabundance. As Christ created, not merely barely enough bread for the 5,000, but the disciples, after all were fed, gathered up twelve baskets full, so we may well believe that here he created not barely sufficient for the hour, but a superabundance which remained to bless the home after the departure of the guests. On the probable character of this wine, see below, Note on Christ’s example in the use of wine. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants[72] which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, [72] ch. 7:17; Ps. 119:100. 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: _but_ thou hast kept the good wine[73] until now. [73] Ps. 104:15; Prov. 9:2, 5.