John Gill Commentary Matthew 4:13

"and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali:" — Matthew 4:13 (ASV)

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.

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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.