John Gill Commentary John 6

After these things
After Christ's curing the man at Bethesda's pool, and the vindication of himself for doing it on the sabbath day, and for asserting his equality with God; near a year after these things: for these were done at the feast of the passover, and now it was near another; and what is related here, was after the death of John the Baptist, and when the disciples had returned from preaching in the several cities and towns, where Christ afterwards went, and had given an account of their success; see (Matthew 14:12Matthew 14:13) (Mark 6:30Mark 6:31) (Luke 9:10) .

Quickly after the passover was ended, Christ departed from Jerusalem, and went into Galilee, and preached in the several cities and towns in those parts, and wrought many miracles: and after these things, in process of time,

Jesus went over the sea of Galilee ;
the same with the lake of Gennesaret, (Luke 5:1) ;

which is the sea of Tiberias ;
and is frequently so called by the Jewish writers ^F24 , who often make mention of (lv hmy hyrbj) , "the sea of Tiberias"; and by other writers, it is called the lake of Tiberias ^F25 ; Pliny, who calls it the lake of Genesara ^F26 , says, "it was sixteen miles long, and six broad, and was surrounded by very pleasant towns; on the east were Julias and Hippo, and on the south Tarichea, by which name some call the lake, and on the west Tiberias, known for its wholesome hot waters." And these are the waters which the Jews call (ayrbjd Nyowmyd) , or, (ymx) , the hot baths of Tiberias ^F1 ; and from the city of Tiberias built by Herod, and called so in honour of Tiberius Caesar, the sea took its name.

FOOTNOTES:

• F24: T. Bab. Bava Kama, fol. 81. 2. & Bava Bathra, fol. 74. 2. Becorot, fol. 55. 1. Megilla, fol. 5. 2. & 6. 1. Moed. Katon, fol. 18. 2. & T. Hieros. Kilaim, fol. 32. 3. & Erubin, fol. 25. 2.
• F25: Solin, c. 48. Pausan. l. 5. p. 298.
• F26: Lib. 5. c. 15.
• F1: T. Hieros. Peah, fol 21. 2. & Sheviith, fol. 38. 4. Kiddushin, fol. 61. 1. R. Benj. Itinerar. p. 53.

And a great multitude followed him
From several cities and towns in Galilee, where he had been preaching and working miracles:

because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were
diseased ;
so that it was not for the sake of his doctrine, or for the good of their souls, they followed him; but either to gratify their curiosity in seeing his miracles, or to be healed in their bodies, as others had been.

And Jesus went up into a mountain In a desert place near Bethsaida, (Luke 9:10) ;

and there he sat with his disciples ; partly for security from the cruelty of Herod, having just heard of the beheading of John; and partly for privacy, that he might have some conversation alone with his disciples, upon their return from off their journey; as also for the sake of rest and refreshment; and according to the custom of the Jewish doctors, which now prevailed, (See Gill on Matthew 5:1), he sat with his disciples, in order to teach and instruct them.

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh .
] This was the third passover, since our Lord's baptism, and entrance on his public ministry; see (John 2:13) (5:1) . Whether Christ went up to this feast is not certain; some think he did not; but from what is said in (John 7:1) , it looks as if he did: how nigh it was to the feast, cannot well be said. Thirty days before the feast, they began to talk about it; and especially in the last fifteen days, they made preparations for it, as being at hand ^F2 ; and if there was now so long time to it, there was time enough for Jesus to go to it.

FOOTNOTES:

• F2: T. Bab. Pesach. fol. 6. 1. Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Shekalim, c. 3. sect. 1.

When Jesus then lift up [his] eyes
Being before engaged in close conversation with his disciples, and looking wistly and intently on them, whilst he was discoursing with them:

and saw a great company come unto him ;
who came on foot, over the bridge at Chammath, from Capernaum, and other cities of Galilee:

he says unto Philip ;
he directed his discourse to him particularly, because he was of Bethsaida, near to which place Christ now was, and therefore might be best able to answer the following question:

From where shall we buy bread, that these may eat ?
This, according to the other evangelists, must be said after Christ came from the mountain, and the people were come to him, and he had received them kindly, and had instructed them about the kingdom of God, and had healed the diseased among them, and expressed great compassion for them; and after the disciples had desired him to dismiss them, that they might go to the adjacent towns, and provide food for themselves; which Christ would not admit of and declared it unnecessary, and then put this question, with the following view.