{The portion} (	o meros). The Jewish law alloted one-half
as much to the younger son as to the elder, that is to say
one-third of the estate ( De 21:17 ) at the death of the father.
The father did not have to abdicate in favour of the sons, but
"this very human parable here depicts the impatience of home
restraints and the optimistic ambition of youth" (Ragg). {And he
divided} (ho de dieilen). The second aorist active indicative
of diaire(935c), an old and common verb to part in two, cut asunder,
divide, but in the N.T. only here and  1Co 12:11 . The elder son
got his share also of the "substance" or property or estate (	(8873)
ousias), "the living" (	on bion) as in  Mr 12:44 , not "life"
as in  Lu 8:14 .