John 11:55

The Jews' Passover was near at hand.

It could not have been more than. few weeks away when he went to Ephraim.

Many went out of the country.

They gathered to the great national festivals, not only from all parts of Judea and Galilee, but from the foreign countries where Jews were scattered abroad.

To purify themselves.

They came in advance of the time of the Passover that they might have time to purify themselves from ceremonial uncleanness before the feast. Though no special rites of purification were enjoined before the Passover, yet the people were expected to purify themselves before any important event (Exodus 19:10-11), and were accustomed to go through certain special rites of purification before the Passover (2 Chronicles 30:13-20).