NOW it is the proper time for Elizabeth to give birth, as Luke says in 1.57, and it is a son. Their neighbors rejoice when they heard that God has shown mercy to Elizabeth. This may indicate that Elizabeth did not leave their house, so that they did not see that she had delivered but had been told. They then rejoice with Elizabeth, meaning they came to her house with gifts and music and prayers of exultation.

On the 8th day, they come to circumcize the son, intending to call him Zacharias, after his father. But Elizabeth has heard from God. She declares at them all, he will be called John. Those who had come protest that no one in their family had ever been called John, so Zacharias--still mute--writes on a tablet that John will be his name. His name is settled. Immediately Zacharias now can speak--and he immediately speaks in praise of God.

Fear struck all of those who were there. They knew this was from God. Word of what had happened spread all over the hill country from the women to the shepherds to the farmers and traders and camel owners. Everyone was saying--For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him, 1.66. But God was to have the last word.

Zacharias prophecies over the child, by the power of the Holy Spirit. He begins by saying God has accomplished redemption for His people. This is in the future tense, although as with the magnificat the verbs are put in the perfect past. It is as if someone who has been coming for a long time has finally arrived. Zacharias then prophecies his son will be the--horn of salvation for us in the house of David, 1.69. This Zacharias probably remembered from 1 Samuel 2.1, 10.

While the magnificat is judgmental with scattering the proud, bringing down rulers, sending the rich away, in Zacharias' prophecy the emphasis is on Israel's covenant, showing mercy, as the child John will go before the Lord to prepare the way for salvation. The last sentence of the prophecy is typical of the entire message--to guide our feet into the way of peace, 1.79.

Luke then says John grew strong in spirit, living in the desert until his appearance to Israel. This may indicate John stayed in a desert community. The desert communities had the scrolls in Hebrew of the Law, Prophets, Wisdom, and history of Israel. John may have heard these read as the monks preserve and copy them.