Carry neither purse,.... The Syriac version reads, "purses, "to put money, gold, silver, and brass in; and the prohibition regards the money in the purse chiefly:nor scrip; the Syriac version here also reads in the plural number, "scrips", to put victuals in, provisions or any sort for their journey, which they were not to carry with them, any more than money, to buy food withNor shoes; any more than those they had upon their feet;See Gill on "Mt 10:9" See Gill on "Mt 10:10" and salute no man by the way; that they might not be retarded, and hindered in their journey by tedious ceremonies, and long inquiries into the health of persons and friends, and the business they were going about, and places where; and by discourses and confabulations, drawn out to great length, as was often the case at meeting on the road: and, for the same reason, a like charge is given to Gehazi, 2Ki 4:29, and which, as the Jewish commentators on the place observe , was, that he might not multiply words with persons he met with, and might not be stopped by the way; and that his intention might be in his work, and his mind might not turn to any other thing, either by word or deed.
So our Lord's intention, by this order was, not to teach them incivility, or to be morose and uncourteous; but that they might dispatch their business with the utmost expedition, and rather forego some common civilities and ceremonies, than to neglect, or, in the least, to hinder a work of so much importance they were sent about: and this was the more necessary, since, according to the Jewish maxim ,"prevent every man with a salutation;''they saluted all that they met, which took up time, and hindered business.
Some sorts of persons indeed were excused, as those who were mourners for the dead, and such as kept fasts for rain : but such were not these disciples; they neither mourned, nor fasted, nor could they, so long as the bridegroom was with them.
Jarchi, Kimchi, & R. Levi Ben Gersom in 2 Kings iv. 29. Pirke Abot. c. 4. sect. 15. T. Bab. in Misn. Moed Katon, c. 3. sect. 6. Misn. Taanith, c. 1. sect.