not in the winter when swollen streams, bitter cold and long nights would increase the misery and danger of the fugitives.

on the sabbath day when religious scruples might delay the flight. The extent of a Sabbath day's journey was 2000 cubits. Here, however, the question meets us, how far Jewish observances would affect the Christians. Probably the early Christians observed both the Sabbath and the Lord's day. But in any case many impediments would arise against flight on the Sabbath day. St Matthew alone records these words of warning.

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