Luke 1:22
And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
And when he came out, he could not speak unto them,.... Or deliver the benediction they were waiting for:
and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: which he made them to understand, by the gestures he used: for he beckoned unto them; nodding his head, or by some motions of his hands the Ethiopic version adds, "with his hand": or of his lips; for the signs of a dumb man are distinguished into hzymr, and huypq {q}; the one is a sign which is expressed by the head and hands; and the other is a sign expressed by the lips: hence that rule, {r}
"a dumb man beckons, and is beckoned to; and Ben Bethira says, he moves his lips, and lips are moved to him:''
and remained speechless; to the time the angel fixed.
{q} Bartenora in Misa. Gittin, c. 5. sect. 7.
{r} Misn. ib.