is by "gematry, sixty"; that is, the letters of the word, numerically make so much. The Mahometan writers, as before observed on Lu 1:7 make him to be ninety nine years of age: he was not discharged from service; the Levites were at fifty, but not the priests; blemishes, as the Jewish writers say , made them unfit for service, but years did not: and even the law concerning the Levites, they say , only respected the time they carried the sanctuary from place to place, and not future generations; and that they are disqualified neither by blemishes, nor by years, only by voice, for singing of the song; but then they might be among the porters; so that they were not on that account laid aside from all service:and my wife well stricken in years.
The Mahometan writers, as before, say, she was "eighty nine"; a like objection Abraham made, though he afterwards got over it, and was strong in faith, giving glory to God, believing in his power and faithfulness; see Ge 17:17.
Misn. Abot, c. 5. sect. 21. & Maimon. in ib. R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 24. 2. T. Bab. Cholin, fol. 24. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Cele Hamikdash, c. 3. sect.