{The Jews} (hoi Ioudaioi). The hostile leaders in
Jerusalem, not the Galilean crowds ( 7:12 ) nor the populace in
Jerusalem ( 7:25 ). {Sought} (ez(8874)oun). Imperfect active of
z(8874)e(935c), "were seeking," picture of the attitude of the Jewish
leaders toward Jesus who had not yet appeared in public at the
feast. In fact he had avoided Jerusalem since the collision in
chapter 5. The leaders clearly wished to attack him. {Where is
he?} (pou estin ekeinos;). "Where is that one? (emphatic use of
ekeinos as in  1:8  9:12 ). Jesus had been at two feasts during
his ministry (passover in  2:12ff. ; possibly another passover in
 5:1 ), but he had avoided the preceding passover ( 6:4  7:1 ).
The leaders in Jerusalem had kept in touch with Christ's work in
Galilee. They anticipate a crisis in Jerusalem.