Jesus withdrew himself— The immense multitude which followed our Lord, did not all come together purely out of curiosity; it was principle, no doubt, which moved many; but others came merely to be healed of their diseases and infirmities; and as our Lord's fame had spread, not only through the whole land of Israel, but into the neighbouring heathen countries, Idumea, Tyre, Sidon, Syria, and the rest, we may be sure that the diseased who came at this time to be cured by him were not a few; and that they with their attendants made a considerable part of the crowd; which was now so great, that, to avoid being trodden down by those who came to touch him, in order to be healed, Jesus was obliged to go into one of his disciples' boats; out of which, as on other occasions of a like nature, he no doubt taught them the doctrines of salvation; for it was his constant custom to join preaching with the working of miracles, the latter giving efficacy to the former. Idumea, Mark 3:8 comprehended not only the ancient possession of the Edomites, but the southern parts of Judea. After our Lord's time, the whole of Judea was sometimes called Idumea by the Greeks and Romans, who named even the Jews themselves Idumaeans, from the country which they possessed. See Grotius.

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