And they took up of the fragments that remained, twelve baskets
full;
according to the number of the disciples, every man had his basket full. It may be inquired, where they could have so many baskets in the wilderness? It is not likely, that everyone of the apostles had a basket with him; it is indeed not improbable, but that they might be furnished with them from some in the company, who might bring provisions with them, either for their own use, or to sell; see (John 6:9) but perhaps the reason why they were so easily supplied with such a number of baskets in a desert place, might be a custom which the Jews ^F8 had of carrying baskets with hay and straw, in commemoration of what they did in Egypt; when they were obliged to carry bricks in baskets, and to go about and pick up straw in baskets to make bricks; hence the ^F9 Epigrammatist calls a "Jew", "cistifer", a "basket bearer", or "carrier"; and Juvenal ^F11 laughs at these people, as if all their household goods lay in a basket, and a little hay, or straw: it is said of R. Siraeon, that when he went to the school, (anu lyqv) , "he carried a basket" on his shoulders ^F12; the gloss suggests, it was to sit upon; but a basket is not very proper for a seat; very likely it was for the above reason: such a custom will account for it, how such a number of baskets could be come at in the wilderness.