Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 3:23
Verse 23. In AEnon] This place was eight miles southward from Scythopolis, between Salim and Jordan. There was much water] And this was equally necessary, where such multitudes were baptized, whether the ceremony were performed either by dipping or sprinkling. But as the Jewish custom required the persons to stand in the water, and, having been instructed, and entered into a covenant to renounce all idolatry, and take the God of Israel for their God, then plunge themselves under the water, it is probable that the rite was thus performed at AEnon. The consideration that they dipped themselves, tends to remove the difficulty expressed in the note on Matt. iii. 6. See the observations at the end of Mark.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. And John also was baptizing in Aenon , etc.] The Syriac and Persic versions call it Ain, or In you, the fountain of the dove; and the Arabic version reads it, the fountain of Nun: and whether it was a town, or river, it seems to have its name from a fountain near it, or that itself was one, where was an abundance of water, as the text shows. There is a city of this name in the Septuagint version of ( Joshua 15:61), and mention is made of Hazerenon in ( Numbers 34:9 Ezekiel 47:17), but neither of them seem to be the same with this; but be it where, and what it will, it was near to Salim ; and where that was, is as difficult to know as the other, some take it to be Shalem, a city of Shechem, mentioned in ( Genesis 33:18), but that is not the same name with this; and besides was in Samaria; and indeed is by some there thought not to be the proper name of any place. Others are of opinion, that it is the same with Shalim in ( Samuel 9:4), though it seems rather to be the place which Arias Montanus calls Salim juxta torrentem, Salim by the brook; and which he places in the tribe of Issachar: and might be so called, either because it was near this Aenon, and may be the brook, or river intended, by which it was; or because it was not far from the place where the two rivers, Jabbok and Jordan, met; and so the Jewish maps place near Jordan, in the tribe of Manasseh, bordering on the tribe of Issachar, a Shalem, and by it Ain-yon.
And the Septuagint in ( Joshua 19:22) mention Salim by the sea, as in the tribe of Issachar. There is a passage in the Talmud f157 , which, whether it has any regard to this Aenon, and Salim, I leave to be considered: the wine of Ogedoth, why is it forbidden? because of the village Pegesh; and that of Borgetha, because of the Saracene palace; and of Ain-Cushith, because of the village Salem.
Nonnus here calls Aenon, a place of deep waters; and Salim he reads Salem; and so some copies. Aenon, where John baptized, according to Jerom f158 , was eight miles from Scythopolis, to the south, and was near Salim and Jordan; and he makes Salim to be at the same distance from Scythopolis. However, John was baptizing in these parts, at the same time that Christ was teaching and baptizing: he did not leave off on that account. This was the work he was sent to do, and which he continued in as long as he had his liberty; and be chose this place, because there was much water there ; or many waters; not little purling streams, and rivulets; but, as Nonnus renders it, abundance of water; or a multitude of it, as in the Arabic version; (see Revelation 1:15 14:2 17:1 19:6 Song of Solomon 8:7) and the Septuagint in ( Psalm 78:16) ( <19A723> Psalm 107:23), and what was sufficient to immerse the whole body in, as Calvin, Aretius, Piscator, and Grotius, on the place, observe; and which was agreeable not only to: the practice of the Jews, who used dipping in their baptisms, and purifications, as Musculus and Lightfoot assert; but to Johns method and practice elsewhere: and they came, and were baptized . The Ethiopic version renders it, they came to him, that is, to John, and he baptized them; as the Persic version adds, there, in Aenon, near Salim, in the much water there: it may be understood of the people coming both to John and Christ, and of their being baptized by them; though it seems rather to be said of John; and so Nonnus paraphrases it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 22-36 - John was fully satisfied with the place and work assigned him; but Jesus came on a more important work. He also knew that Jesus woul increase in honour and influence, for of his government and peace ther would be no end, while he himself would be less followed. John kne that Jesus came from heaven as the Son of God, while he was a sinful mortal man, who could only speak about the more plain subjects of religion. The words of Jesus were the words of God; he had the Spirit not by measure, as the prophets, but in all fulness. Everlasting lif could only be had by faith in Him, and might be thus obtained; wherea all those, who believe not in the Son of God, cannot partake of salvation, but the wrath of God for ever rests upon them __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S δε 1161 CONJ και 2532 CONJ ιωαννης 2491 N-NSM βαπτιζων 907 5723 V-PAP-NSM εν 1722 PREP αινων 137 N-PRI εγγυς 1451 ADV του 3588 T-GSM σαλειμ 4530 N-PRI οτι 3754 CONJ υδατα 5204 N-NPN πολλα 4183 A-NPN ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S εκει 1563 ADV και 2532 CONJ παρεγινοντο 3854 5708 V-IDI-3P και 2532 CONJ εβαπτιζοντο 907 5712 V-IPI-3P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. Was baptizing (hn baptizwn). The substantive verb with the participle also indicating continuous or habitual action; was engaged in baptizing.Aenon, near to Salim. The situation is a matter of conjecture. The word, Aenon is probably akin to the Hebrew ayin, an eye, a spring. See on James iii. 11.
Much water (udata polla). Literally, many waters. Probably referring to a number of pools or springs.
Came - were baptized. Imperfects. They kept coming.
