Northeast coast of the lake. The five thousand are fed. Jesus afterwards walks upon the water, Matt. 14:15–33; Mark 6:35–51; Luke 9:12–17 (Luke omits the walking on the water); John 6:5–21.
CHAPTER V.
THE THIRD PASSOVER.
1. Many incidental circumstances have led commentators to suppose that the third Passover transpired about this time. The following incidents are therefore attributed to him after the third Passover. We therefore, in accordance with the above supposition, recount the events for the next six months to the Feast of Tabernacles. The chief reason for asserting the third Passover at this time is, that according to John 6:4, the Passover “was nigh” at the time of the feeding of the five thousand.
2. Capernaum. Jesus replies to the Pharisees who object to eating with unwashed hands, Matt. 15:2; Mark 7:1, in which the washing was not for cleanliness but religious ceremony.
3. Region of Tyre and Sidon. The Syro-phœnician woman’s daughter healed, Matt. 15:21; Mark 7:24.
TYRE AND SIDON.
These were Phœnician towns, twenty-five miles distant from each other, and upon the Mediterranean seacoast. They are mentioned in history long before the building of Jerusalem. The first is mentioned in Scripture in Josh. 19:29 for the first time, while Sidon is spoken of by name many years before, in Gen. 10:19, as being a prominent Canaanitish city, B. C. 2350.
In the time of our Saviour they were both inhabited places, and Tyre was a city of great importance. At present they are considerable towns of from 5,000 (Tyre) to 15,000 (Sidon) inhabitants. Tyre is almost due west from Mt. Hermon.
Decapolis. The deaf and dumb healed, Mark 7:32. It is probable that this case is to be distinguished from those mentioned in Matt. 9:32; 12:22, which may have happened at previous times, as the surrounding circumstances suggest.