13. And leaving Nazareth--The prevalent opinion is that this refers
to a first visit to Nazareth after His baptism, whose details are
given by Luke
(Lu 4:16,
&c.); a second visit being that detailed by our Evangelist
(Mt 13:54-58),
and by Mark
(Mr 6:1-6).
But to us there seem all but insuperable difficulties in the
supposition of two visits to Nazareth after His baptism; and on the
grounds stated in
Lu 4:16,
&c., we think that the one only visit to Nazareth is that
recorded by Matthew
(Mt 13:53-58),
Mark
(Mr 6:1-6),
and Luke
(Lu 4:14-30).
But how, in that case, are we to take the word
"leaving Nazareth" here? We answer, just as the same word is used in
Ac 21:3,
"Now when we had sighted Cyprus, and left it on the left, we
sailed into Syria,"--that is, without entering Cyprus at all, but
merely "sighting" it, as the nautical phrase is, they steered southeast
of it, leaving it on the northwest. So here, what we understand the
Evangelist to say is, that Jesus, on His return to Galilee, did not, as
might have been expected, make Nazareth the place of His stated
residence, but, "leaving [or passing by] Nazareth,"
he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the
seacoast--maritime Capernaum, on the northwest shore of the Sea of
Galilee; but the precise spot is unknown. (See on
Mt 11:23).
Our Lord seems to have chosen it for several reasons. Four or five of
the Twelve lived there; it had a considerable and mixed population,
securing some freedom from that intense bigotry which even to this day
characterizes all places where Jews in large numbers dwell nearly
alone; it was centrical, so that not only on the approach of the annual
festivals did large numbers pass through it or near it, but on any
occasion multitudes could easily be collected about it; and for
crossing and recrossing the lake, which our Lord had so often occasion
to do, no place could be more convenient. But one other high reason
for the choice of Capernaum remains to be mentioned, the only one
specified by our Evangelist.
in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim--the one lying to the west
of the Sea of Galilee, the other to the north of it; but the precise
boundaries cannot now be traced out.
JFB.
Outline
1 The temptation of Jesus
13 Jesus dwells in Capernaum
17 Jesus begins to preach
18 Jesus calls Peter and Andrew, James and John
23 Jesus heals the sick
Drawing of the Temptation of Jesus Christ by Dore
Important Topics for Bible Study
Quick Reference Map
Map of Galilee and northern Israel
(Click to Enlarge)
Painted Illustration of Jesus Calling James and John
Ancient Customs
Geography
Capernaum
Galilee
Matthew Resources
The New Testament