Matthew 4:12

when Jesus had heard probably also becausehe had heard. It was a needful precaution against the cruel treachery of Herod Antipas. At Capernaum He would be close to the dominions of Herod Philip.

John was cast into prison at Machærus. The cause of John's imprisonment is stated at length ch. Matthew 14:3-4 (where see note) and Luke 3:19-20.

On hearing of the deathof John the Baptist Jesus retired into the wilderness. See ch. Matthew 14:13.

departed into Galilee by the shortest route through Samaria. John 4:4. During this journey must be placed the conversation with the woman of Samaria. This was after a ministry in Judæa, which had lasted eight months (Ellicott, Lectures on the life of our Lord, p. 130), some incidents of which are related by St John, 2, 3.

Galilee = a circle or circuit originally confined to a "circle" of 20 cities given by Solomon to Hiram 1 Kings 9:11. Cp. Joshua 20:7. From this small beginning the name spread to a larger district, just as the name of Asia spread from a district near the Mæander, first to the Roman Province, then to a quarter of the Globe. The Jews were in a minority in those parts. The population mainly consisted of Phœnicians, Arabs, and Greeks.