Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.
40. Two men shall then be in the field. Before mentioning this, Luke inserts some sentences; the first of which is presented by Matthew as belonging to the destruction of Jerusalem, Let not him who shall be on the house-top go down into his house to carry away his furniture. But it is possible that Christ applied the same words to various subjects.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill,.... Though the word women is not in the Greek text, yet it is rightly supplied by our translators, as it is in the Persic version; for the word rendered grinding, is in the feminine gender, and was the work of women, as appears both from the Scripture, Exo 11:5 and from several passages in the Jewish writings...
Verse 40. Then shall two be in the field, etc. The calamity shall come suddenly. There shall be no escape for those whom it overtakes. One shall be taken. The word taken may mean, either to be taken away from the danger, i.e. rescued, as Lot was, or to be taken away by death. Probably the latter is the meaning.