Matthew 4:13

13 and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali:

Matthew 4:13 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 4:13

And leaving Nazareth
Where he was educated, and had lived many years together; and where he preached first to the good liking of the people, who

wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth:
though afterwards they were so much displeased with him, that they thrust him out of their city; and intended to have destroyed him, by casting him down headlong from the brow of an hill; and which seems to be the reason of his leaving this city; see ( Luke 4:16-31 )

he came and dwelt in Capernaum
a city of Galilee. ( Luke 4:31 )

which is upon the sea-coast
by the sea of Tiberias, or Genesareth

in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
it bordered on both these tribes; it signifies "the village of consolation" F20; and so it was, whilst the consolation of Israel dwelt there. The Jews speak very evilly of it: no doubt because it was the dwelling place of Christ; and because there might be some in it who believed in him: they represent the inhabitants of it as very great sinners, heretics, and dealers in magic art. Chanina, the brother's son of R. Joshua, they say F21, went to Capernaum, and the heretics did something to him; according to the gloss, they bewitched him: and elsewhere F23 explaining the words in ( Ecclesiastes 7:26 )

Who so pleaseth God
; this, they say, is Chananiah, the brother's son of R. Joshua; and "the sinner"; these are the "children", or inhabitants of Capernaum. Thus they show their spite against the very place in which Christ dwelt.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 Vid. Benjamin Tudelens. Itinerar. p. 37. & L'Empereur, not. in ib. & Hieron. in Mar. i. 21. & Origen. Comment. in Matt. p. 317. vol. 1. Ed. Huet.
F21 Midrash Koheleth. fol. 63. 1.
F23 Ib. fol. 77. 1.

Matthew 4:13 In-Context

11 Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
12 Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee;
13 and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali:
14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.