8:30–31 When the demons recognize that Jesus will cast them out (“if you drive us out” is a first-class condition almost equivalent to when you drive us out) but will delay their total destruction, they request a new home. Swine, like tombs, defiled Jews but afforded appropriate refuge for evil spirits. 8:32 Jesus accedes to the demons’ request. “Go!” is more literally, You may go, granting permission. Against many interpretations, it seems that the pigs’ drowning surprises neither Jesus nor the
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