JESUS MOVES TO CAPERNAUM

MATTHEW 4:12–17

The baptism of Jesus and his defeat of Satan’s temptations were both acts that revealed his legitimate authority. They occurred in the regions of Perea and Judea, but soon after, Jesus went back to the Galilee where he established a more permanent residence in Capernaum. For the next few years, this village was known as “his own town” (Matt. 9:1). We will see that Jesus relocated to Capernaum for a reason.

Matthew offers an explanation for this move: Jesus left Nazareth in the area of Zebulun to live by the Sea of Galilee in the area of Naphtali in order to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah (Matt. 4:13–16). To draw attention to the fact that Jesus’s relocation to Capernaum fulfilled prophecy, Matthew even quotes a portion of Isaiah 9 that speaks about a light dawning in the dark regions of Zebulun and Naphtali in the Galilee of the Gentiles (Isa. 9:1–2; 42:6–7).

If we explore the history of this region and the larger message of Isaiah 9, it will become clear why Capernaum was selected for this particular honor. The history of Zebulun and Naphtali is filled with horrible times of foreign occupation. Since the Promised Land is a land bridge connecting the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe, it frequently was the target of foreign invasion by those wishing to cash in on the trade and tax revenues this land promised, and Naphtali and Zebulun faced the brunt of the occupations. Among the earliest of those invasions was that of the Assyrians, which had been prophesied in the eighth century BC. At that time the Lord had spoken to his people through the prophet Isaiah, warning of the time when the Assyrians would attack and ravage the land (Isaiah 8). It was Zebulun and Naphtali in particular that absorbed the ravages of the Assyrian king (2 Kings 15:29).

In the first century BC the Romans brought violence and hardship to the people living near Capernaum. Herod the Great was attempting to solidify the Roman control in this region, which was known as the “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Matt. 4:15). Toward that end, he sought to clean out the resistance fighters who had hidden themselves and their families in cave homes lining the steep cliffs above the Valley of the Pigeons near Arbela, just west of Capernaum. Those resisting Rome thought the topography of the region would provide adequate protection. But Herod had Roman soldiers lowered in baskets over the edge of the cliff to slaughter the families.15 These are but two examples of the way Zebulun and Naphtali felt the weight of foreign occupation.16

Arbel cliffs and plain of Magdala (view looking northeast toward Capernaum).

If there was a dark place that needed the light of hope, this was it. That is why God promised this region that it would receive the Messiah’s special attention. Those living in the shadow of death and darkness of Gentile occupation would enjoy the dawning of the light (Isa. 9:2). Upon the birth of a special child, things would change dramatically. The warrior’s boots and bloody garments of war would be discarded and used as fuel for the fire (Isa. 9:5). For that special child would be the Messiah who would inherit the throne of David, the government would be on his shoulders, and foreign occupiers would be defeated as he established an eternal Kingdom. He would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6; see vv. 1–7).

Jesus Moves from Nazareth (in Zebulun) to Capernaum (in Naphtali)

Aerial view of Capernaum looking southwest toward Magdala and the Arbel cliffs.

As Israel looked forward to this day of liberation, Jesus moved to Capernaum, which was ideally situated along the way of the sea, in order to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy (Isa 9:1–2; Matt. 4:13–15). Jesus moved to this place to proclaim a message of rescue: the one who brought the Kingdom of God had come to give life to a world of death.

Mile marker denoting the Via Maris (international highway), which passed through Capernaum.