the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Capernaum
People's Dictionary of the Bible
or Capernaum (ka-per'na-um), image of Nahum. A city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, Matthew 4:13; comp. John 6:24, but not named in the Old Testament. It was in the "land of Gennesaret." Matthew 14:34; comp. John 6:17; John 6:21; John 6:24. It was of sufficient size to be called a "city," Matthew 9:1; Mark 1:33 : had its own synagogue, in which our Lord frequently taught, Mark 1:21; Luke 4:33; Luke 4:38; John 6:69; and it had also a station where the taxes or customs were gathered both by stationary and by itinerant officers. Matthew 9:9; Matthew 17:24; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27. Capernaum is of interest as the residence of our Lord and his apostles, the scene of many miracles and teachings. The spots which lay claim to its site are: 1. Khan Minieh, a mound of ruins which takes its name from an old khan hard by. This mound is situated close upon the seashore at the northwestern extremity of the plain (now El Ghuweir). 2. Three miles north of Khan Minieh is Tell Hum, where are ruins of walls and foundations covering a space of half a mile long by a quarter wide, on a point of the shore projecting into the lake and backed by a very gently rising ground. It is impossible to locate Capernaum with certainty; further explorations may find the site. It was joined with Chorazin and Bethsaida, in the fearful prediction of our Lord, the ruin of the cities giving a striking fulfillment of it. See Matthew 11:21-23.
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Rice, Edwin Wilbur, DD. Entry for 'Capernaum'. People's Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/rpd/c/capernaum.html. 1893.
