{From Jericho} (apo Iereich(935c)). See on 烘t 20:29| for
discussion of this phrase and Luke's ( Lu 18:35 ) "nigh unto
Jericho" and the two Jerichos, the old and the new Roman (Luke).
The new Jericho was "about five miles W. of the Jordan and
fifteen E. of Jerusalem, near the mouth of the _Wady Kelt_, and
more than a mile south of the site of the ancient town" (Swete).
{Great multitude} (ochlou hikanou). Considerable, more than
sufficient. Often in Luke and the papyri in this sense. See  Mt
3:11  for the other sense of fit for hikanos. {Bartimaeus}
(Bartimaios). Aramaic name like Bartholomew, ar meaning son
like Hebrew _ben_. So Mark explains the name meaning "the son of
Timaeus" (ho huios Timaiou). Mark alone gives his name while
 Mt 20:30  mentions two which see for discussion. {Blind beggar}
(	uphlos prosait(8873)), "begging" (epait(936e)) Luke has it ( Lu
18:35 ). All three Gospels picture him as {sitting by the
roadside} (ekath(8874)o para t(886e) hodon). It was a common sight.
Bartimaeus had his regular place. Vincent quotes Thomson
concerning Ramleh: "I once walked the streets counting all that
were either blind or had defective eyes, and it amounted to about
one-half the male population. The women I could not count, for
they are rigidly veiled" (_The Land and the Book_). The dust, the
glare of the sun, the unsanitary habits of the people spread
contagious eye-diseases.