[Mary’s Visit to Elisabeth, Luke 1:39-56. See The Nativity.] Mary‘s visit to the home of Elisabeth no doubt occurred almost immediately after the announcement of the birth of Jesus, because the announcement came in the sixth month of Elisabeth‘s pregnancy, and Mary remained with her about three months (see vs. 1:26, 56). Furthermore, Mary made the journey “with haste.”

That is, soon after the announcement of the birth of Jesus.

 See on v. 23. The mountainous uplands of Judah extended from Jerusalem in the north to Hebron in the south (see Joshua 21:11).

 Here the expression seems to refer not so much to the rate of speed with which Mary made the journey as to the eagerness of her desire to be with Elisabeth. Mary had just become the recipient of one of the greatest secrets of time and eternity (see Rom. 16:25), and must have felt an intense desire to talk over the matter with someone who could understand. And who was in a better position to understand than Elisabeth, for she, according to the angel, was experiencing a miracle herself. Furthermore, Elisabeth‘s years of devotion to the revealed will of God would enable her not only to listen with a sympathetic ear but to give valuable counsel and guidance to Mary, a young woman confronted now with a major problem and responsibility (see Luke 1:6). The angel had pointed to Elisabeth‘s experience as a sign of the fulfillment of his words to Mary (see on v. 7). Mary did not go in order to discover whether what the angel had said was true, but rather because she believed his words.

Fellowship with someone who can understand our inmost feelings is one of the precious treasures life has to offer. The value of Christian fellowship and communion is beyond estimation. The fathers and mothers in Israel, in particular, have a solemn obligation to share their experience in the will and ways of God with those who are younger. Those young people who, like Mary, seek the counsel of their elders are more likely to choose a course of action that will bring gladness to their hearts and success to their endeavors. No Christian should ever be too busy to fellowship with those who may be in need of the help he is in a position to give.

 According to tradition this was the city of Hebron, chief of the nine cities in the tribes of Simeon and Judah assigned the priests (see Joshua 21:13-16; 1 Chron. 6:57-59). Here was the first land Abraham owned in Canaan (see Gen. 23:17-19), and it was here that David first was anointed king (see 2 Sam. 2:1, 4). Some have suggested that “Juda” is a variant spelling in the Hebrew for “Juttah” (Joshua 15:55; 21:16), another priestly city, about 5 mi. south of Hebron. However, this identification is not supported by any evidence, scriptural, historical, or archeological. Furthermore, Luke refers to Nazareth as “a city of Galilee” (ch. 1:26), and it would seem most likely that the parallel expression, “a city of Juda,” would make of “Juda” a province and not a city.