a city celebrated in the Gospels, being the place where Jesus
usually resided during the time of his ministry. It stood on the sea
coast, that is, on the coast of the sea of Galilee, in the borders of
Zebulun and Naphtalim, Matt. iv, 15, and consequently toward the upper
part of it. As it was a convenient port from Galilee to any place on the
other side of the sea, this might be our Lord’s inducement to make it
the place of his most constant residence. Upon this account Capernaum
was highly honoured; and though “exalted unto heaven,” as its
inhabitants boasted, because it made no proper use of this signal favour
it drew from him the severe denunciation, that it should “be brought
down to hell,” Matt. xi, 23. This sentence of destruction has been fully
realized; the ancient city is reduced to a state of utter desolation.
Burckhardt supposes the ruins called Tal Houm, near the rivulet called
El Eshe, to be those of Capernaum. Mr. Buckingham, who gives this place
the name of Talhhewn, describes considerable and extensive ruins; the
only remains of those edifices which exalted Capernaum above its
fellows.
usually resided during the time of his ministry. It stood on the sea
coast, that is, on the coast of the sea of Galilee, in the borders of
Zebulun and Naphtalim, Matt. iv, 15, and consequently toward the upper
part of it. As it was a convenient port from Galilee to any place on the
other side of the sea, this might be our Lord’s inducement to make it
the place of his most constant residence. Upon this account Capernaum
was highly honoured; and though “exalted unto heaven,” as its
inhabitants boasted, because it made no proper use of this signal favour
it drew from him the severe denunciation, that it should “be brought
down to hell,” Matt. xi, 23. This sentence of destruction has been fully
realized; the ancient city is reduced to a state of utter desolation.
Burckhardt supposes the ruins called Tal Houm, near the rivulet called
El Eshe, to be those of Capernaum. Mr. Buckingham, who gives this place
the name of Talhhewn, describes considerable and extensive ruins; the
only remains of those edifices which exalted Capernaum above its
fellows.