Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains,.... See Gill on Mat 24:16. And let them which are in the midst of it; either of Judea, as the preceding clause seems to direct the sense; or in Jerusalem, and which indeed was in the midst of Judea; and this sense is favoured by the Persic version, which renders it, "within the city"; let them go out of it, as the Christians did to Pella, Mount Libanus, and other places: and let not them that are in the countries; either foreign countries, or in towns and villages; enter thereinto: either into Judea, or into Jerusalem; contrary to this advice, they came from all countries to the feast of the passover at Jerusalem, and were there shut up by the siege and destroyed (c). (c) Joseph. de Bello Jud. l. 7. c. 17.