Mark 5:2

Out of the ship. A short distance to the south of the village of Kursi (see on v. 1) is a steep bluff that descends abruptly to a narrow shore (see on v. 13). Jesus and the disciples may well have disembarked to the south of this bluff, where the beach widens and the hills recede from the lake.

Tombs. The limestone hills in the region about Kursi abound in caverns and rock-hewn chambers. Dug out of the comparatively soft limestone, chambers such as these were commonly used as burial places in ancient Palestine.

A man. Matthew speaks of two men (ch. 8:28). Apparently, however, one was outstandingly fierce. Similarly, Matthew speaks of two blind men at Jericho (ch. 20:30), where Mark (ch. 10:46) and Luke (ch. 18:35) speak of but one, probably for some similar reason. It is worthy of note that Matthew, no doubt an eyewitness to both events, mentions two men in each instance. Concerning differences between the various gospel accounts of the same incident see Additional Notes on Matthew 3, Note 2. Compare on Mark 10:46; Luke 5:2; 7:3; Additional Note on Luke 7.

An unclean spirit. Concerning the nature of demon possession see Additional Note on Chapter 1.