‏ Matthew 14:8-9

 Put forward ( προβιβασθεισα ). See Ac 19:33 for a similar verb ( προβαλοντων ), "pushing forward." Here (Acts) the Textus Receptus uses  προβιβαζω. "It should require a good deal of 'educating' to bring a young girl to make such a grim request" (Bruce).

 Here ( ωδε ). On the spot. Here and now.

 In a charger ( επ πινακ ). Dish, plate, platter. Why the obsolete "charger"?

 Grieved ( λυπηθεις ). Not to hurt, for in verse 5 we read that he wanted ( θελων ) to put him to death ( αποκτεινα ). Herod, however, shrank from so dastardly a deed as this public display of brutality and bloodthirstiness. Men who do wrong always have some flimsy excuses for their sins. A man here orders a judicial murder of the most revolting type "for the sake of his oath" ( δια τους ορκους ). "More like profane swearing than deliberate utterance once for all of a solemn oath" (Bruce). He was probably maudlin with wine and befuddled by the presence of the guests.

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