“And from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.”
When they heard about all he was doing, people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon — the geographic list in verses 7–8 is among the most comprehensive in the Gospels, covering the entire territory associated with the Davidic kingdom and its surrounding regions. Idumea (Edom) and Tyre and Sidon are Gentile territories; the crowd from these regions anticipates the Gentile mission that will develop later. The reason for the crowd's coming is straightforward: they had heard about all he was doing. Reputation precedes Jesus; the miracles draw people before the teaching. The challenge will be whether the drawn crowds understand what they are coming to.
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