the light of the world See John 8:12, where Jesus says of Himself "I am the light of the world." Cp. Philippians 2:15, "Ye shine as lights (rather -luminaries") in the world."

a city that is set on a hill Stanley remarks (S. and P.337) that in Northern Palestine "the plain and mountain-sides are dotted with villages … situated for the most part (not like those of Judæa, on hilltops, or Samaria, in deep valleys, but) as in Philistia, on the slopes of the ranges which intersect or bound the plain." The image in the text therefore recalls Judæa rather than Galilee, Bethlehem rather than Nazareth. Some however have conjectured that the lofty Safed was in sight, and was pointed to by our Lord. Land and Book, 273.

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