Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 14:13

"Now when Jesus heard [it], he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard [thereof,] they followed him on foot from the cities." — Matthew 14:13 (ASV)

Verse 13. When Jesus heard of it, he departed. He went to a place of safety; he never threw himself unnecessarily into danger. It was proper for him to secure his life until the time should come when it would be proper for him to die.

By a ship into a desert place. That is, he crossed the Sea of Galilee. He went to the country east of the sea, into a place little inhabited. Luke says (Luke 9:10) that he went to a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. See the notes on Matthew 11:21.

A desert place means a place little cultivated, where there were few or no inhabitants. On the east of the Sea of Galilee there was a large tract of country of this description—rough, uncultivated, and chiefly used to pasture flocks.