But while men slept. Not in the explanation. If more than merely a part of the necessary framework of the story, it points to the secrecy with which the devil works. His enemy came. This form of malice is still well known in the East (cf.
Exell's 'Biblical Illustrator,' in loc.). And sowed. Sowed over or in ( ἐπέσπειρεν). Tares; i.e. bearded darnel, Lolium temulentum, "a kind of rye grass, and the only species of the grass family the seeds of which are poisonous.
The derivation of zawan [ ζιζάνια] is from zan, 'vomiting,' the effect of eating darnel being to produce violent nausea, convulsions, and diarrhoea, which frequently ends in death". Among the wheat, and went his way; went away (Revised Version, ἀπῆλθεν).