And when he heard of Jesus,.... That he was come, as the Ethiopic version adds, into the city of Capernaum; or of his miracles, which he had done there, and elsewhere:he sent unto him the elders of the Jews: in whom he had an interest, judging himself, being a Gentile, very unworthy and unfit to go himself, and ask a favour of so great a person as Christ was, such was his modesty and humility.
These elders he sent, were not the more ancient inhabitants of the city, called Urah Me ynqz, "the elders of, or among the common people", as distinguished from hrwt ynqz, "the elders of the law", or those that were old in knowledge; of both which it is said by R.