Matthew 10:9

Provide neither gold, &c. The disciples must not furnish themselves with the ordinary equipment of an Eastern traveller.

gold … silver … brass Of the three metals named the brass or copper represents the native currency. The coinage of Herod the Great was copper only. But Greek and Roman money was also current. The Roman Denarius, a silver coin, is frequently mentioned (ch. Matthew 18:28; Matthew 20:2). The farthing, Matthew 10:29, is the Roman asthe 16th part of a denarius; the Greek drachmaof nearly the same value as a denarius, and the stater(ch. Matthew 17:27) were also in circulation. See Student's O. T. History, p. 596.

in] Rather, for.

purses Literally, girdles or money-belts, cp. "Ibit eo quo vis qui zonam perdidit," Hor. Ep.ii. 2.40. Sometimes a fold of the tunic held up by the girdle served for a purse, "quando major avaritiæ patuit sinus?" Juv. Sat.I. 88.