Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/428



t the  time  when  Herod  was  king  in  Judaea,  there  lived, in a small  city  in  the  hill-country,  a priest  named  Zachary, whose wife  was  called  Elizabeth. They were  both  just  before God, and  walked  blamelessly  in  all  the  commandments  of  the Lord. They had  no  children ;  this  was  a cause  of  great  affliction to them. They often  prayed  that  God  would  give  them  a son; but their  prayer  seemed  to  remain  unanswered,  as  they  were  both now advanced in  years.

It so  happened  that  Zachary  went  to  Jerusalem,  when  his turn came  to  perform  the  priestly  office. He entered  the