23 And John also was baptizing in Ænon, near to Salim,[105] because there was much water there: and they[106] came, and were baptized. [105] 1 Sam. 9:4. [106] Matt. 3:5, 6. 24 For John[107] was not yet cast into prison. [107] Matt. 14:3. =23, 24. In Enon near to Salim.= The site of both places is uncertain. For different hypotheses see _Smith’s Bible Dictionary_, article _Ænon_. Jerome and Eusebius both affirm that Salim existed in their day eight Roman miles south of Scythopolis near the Jordan. Van der Velde found a Mussulman oratory called Sheyk Salim about six miles south of Scythopolis, and two miles west of the Jordan. Dr. Hackett seems to think this the more probable site. This places it near the northern border of Samaria.--=Because there was much water there.= Rather _many_ waters, _i. e._, many springs. Whether this spot was chosen because the water afforded conveniences for baptizing, or because the springs afforded conveniences for the pilgrims that flocked in such numbers (Matt. 3:5) to the baptism of John, is uncertain. Nothing respecting the form of baptism can be deduced from this expression.--=For John was not yet cast into prison.= For chronology of this period, see Matt. 4:12, note. The events recorded in John, chaps. 2, 3, and 4, seem to have occurred between the temptation and the first preaching of Jesus recorded in Matt. 14:3-12; Mark 6:14-29. See notes there. 25 Then there arose a question between _some_ of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest[108] witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all _men_[109] come to him. [108] ch. 1:7, 15, etc. [109] Ps. 65:2; Isa. 45:23. =25, 26. Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and a Jew about purifying.= Not _the Jews_, but _a Jew_, an indication that the difficulty, whatever it was, started with him. Various conjectures have been proposed respecting the nature of this question. The discussion of them is unprofitable. The fact of the question is merely stated to explain how the instructions of John the Baptist came to be given.--=And they came.= Some of the disciples of John came.--=Said unto him.= What they said was evidently in the nature of a complaint. “He who also was with thee,” said they, “as one of thy disciples, has started off on a mission of his own, and is eclipsing thee.” There was possibly a little personal jealousy in this complaint. To their minds Jesus was but a disciple of the Baptist like themselves. 27 John answered and said, A man[110] can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. [110] 1 Cor. 2:12, 14; 4:7. 28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said,[111] I am not the Christ, but that I[112] am sent before him. [111] ch. 1:20, 27.