Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Matthew 4:13
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And leaving Nazareth, etc.] 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 <420416>Luke 4:16-31) he came and dwelt in Capernaum a city of Galilee. (<420431>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” f212; 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 f213, went to Capernaum, and the heretics did something to him; according to the gloss, they bewitched him: and elsewhere f214 explaining the words in (<210726>Ecclesiastes 7:26) Who so pleaseth God, etc.]; 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. Ver. 14, 15. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken, etc.] Christ’s dwelling in Capernaum accomplished a prophecy of the prophet (<230901>Isaiah 9:1,2) and he went and dwelt there, that it might be fulfilled which he had spoken: the meaning of which prophecy is f215, that as those parts of the land of Israel, there mentioned, had suffered much by Tiglathpileser, who had carried them captive, (<121529>2 Kings 15:29) and is “the vexation” referred to; so they should be honoured, and made very glorious, by the presence and conversation of the Messiah among them, and which now had its literal fulfilment: for Christ now came and dwelt in Capernaum, which lay between the lands and upon the borders both of Zabulon and Nephthalim; was situated by the sea of Tiberias, beyond Jordan, and in, “Galilee of the nations”; the upper Galilee, which had in it people of other nations besides Jews. The ancient Jews expected the Messiah to make his first appearance in Galilee; which expectation must be grounded on this prophecy; for so they say f216 expressly, “the king Messiah shall be revealed lylgd a[rab, “in the land of Galilee.”” And in another place f217 explaining (<230219>Isaiah 2:19) they paraphrase it thus, ““for fear of the Lord”; this is the indignation of the whole world: and for the “glory of his majesty”; this is the Messiah; when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth, when he shall arise and be revealed lylgd a[rab, “in the land of Galilee”: because that this is the first place to be destroyed in the holy land; therefore he shall be revealed there the first of all places.” Here Jesus, the true Messiah, made his first appearance publicly; here he called his disciples, and began his ministry. (See Gill on “<400414>Matthew 4:14”)
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