Matthew 4:13

Leaving Nazareth. [Removal to Capernaum, Matt. 4:13-17 = Luke 4:31a. Major comment: Matthew.] Matthew says nothing of the rejection of Jesus by His own townsfolk, the people of Nazareth (see on Luke 4:28, 29). His silence with regard to many of the incidents noted in more detail by the other Gospel writers is thought to be because of the fact that he is more concerned with the teachings of Jesus than with the things Jesus did (see p. 191). For the circumstances that prompted this removal see on Luke 4:16-30.

Capernaum. The name may be derived from the Hebrew words kaphar, “village,” and nachum, “Nahum,” and thus mean “the village of Nahum.” Some have suggested that Capernaum may have been the home of the prophet Nahum, but of this there is no confirmation whatever. It is thought that the town was situated on the site of the modern Tell Hum (some suggest Khan Minyeh), on the northwestern shore of the Lake of Galilee. Since the lake was 685 ft. (209 m.) below the level of the Mediterranean, Capernaum enjoyed a mild, genial climate.

Capernaum was the chief Jewish center of the region (cf. ch. 11:23). Being situated on one of the main highways from Damascus, with Tyre and Sidon on the north, Jerusalem on the south, and the Mediterranean on the west, Capernaum became an important toll station. There was, as well, maritime trade with Decapolis, to the south of the territory of Philip. Perhaps Capernaum was not so large as Sepphoris, which, at least before the building of Tiberias, was the chief city in Galilee. It is thought that Capernaum did not exist before the Babylonian exile; if it did, it must have been an insignificant village, for it is not mentioned in the OT.

Capernaum formed an ideal center from which news of the teachings and miracles of Jesus would spread rapidly to all parts of Galilee, and beyond. The healing of the nobleman’s son (see John 4:46-54) the preceding winter (A.D. 28-29, see The Ministry of Our Lord) had already kindled a light in Capernaum (see on Luke 4:23). The nobleman and his entire family were converted (DA 200), and no doubt spread the news of Jesus and of the healing of the son throughout the city, thus preparing the way for Christ’s personal ministry.

Jesus made Capernaum His home and headquarters for approximately the next year and a half. Peter had already been following Jesus for more than a year (cf. John 1:40-42), and it seems that he opened his own home to Jesus whenever He was in Capernaum (see Mark 1:29-31; 2:1; DA 259, 267). Capernaum came to be known as “his own city” (Matt. 9:1). It was from this center that Jesus set out on each of His evangelistic tours through the towns of Galilee.

The sea coast. That is, of the Lake of Galilee.

Zabulon and Nephthalim. The tribal allotment of Naphtali bordered the Lake of Galilee on the west, whereas that of Zebulun lay still farther to the west (see Joshua 19:10-16, 32-40). These tribal boundaries had long since ceased to have significance. Matthew makes note of the fact that the ministry of Jesus in Galilee centered in the area formerly occupied by these two tribes. He does so in anticipation of his citation from Isa. 9:1, 2 (see Matt. 4:15, 16). Nazareth was within the ancient tribal boundaries of Zebulun, as Capernaum was of Naphtali.