Matthew 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: [kjv]
τοτε οι εν τη ιουδαια φευγετωσαν εις τα ορη [gnt]
24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: [kjv]
ο επι του δωματος μη καταβατω αραι τα εκ της οικιας αυτου [gnt]
This verse sequence is part of the Olivet Discourse where Jesus talks about "
all of it" and the "
end of times" and appears to refer to an actual
"mountain". It is not clear how one would flee to a
"definition".
The ancient Greek word "εις" ≈ "into" (more active and dynamic).
The ancient Greek word "επί" ≈ "on" (more passive and static)
It is unclear how one would flee "
into" the "
mountains" rather than "
on" the "
mountains" (some Greek manuscripts)
What is often attributed to Koine Greek idioms appears to be a bias as to what the translators (and Greek scholars) want the text to say - often made worse by changes in the English language over time.
The KJV (King James Version) translates as "into a mountain" what in the Greek is "into the mountain" (definite article) as a specific but unnamed mountain.
It appears that Jesus was getting away from the crowds. Jesus had many disciples, not just the 12 remaining at the end. So the Beatitudes "teachings" are a private briefing these disciples.
