Cana
(place of reeds) of Galilee, once Cana in Galilee, a village or town not far from Capernaum, memorable as the scene of Christ’s first miracle, ( John 2:1 , 11 ; 4:46 ) as well as of a subsequent one, ( John 4:46 , 54 ) and also as the native place of the apostle Nathanael. ( John 21:2 ) The traditional site is at Kefr-Kenna, a small village about 4 1/2 miles northwest of Nazareth. The rival site is a village situated farther north, about five miles north of Seffurieh (Sepphoris) and nine north of Nazareth.
Capernaum
(village of Nahum) was on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. ( Matthew 4:13 ) comp. John 6:24 It was in the “land of Gennesaret,” [ ( Matthew 14:34 ) comp. John 6:17 , 21 , 24 ] It was of sufficient size to be always 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 , 38 ; John 6:59 ) and there was also a customs station, where the dues were gathered both by stationary and by itinerant officers. ( Matthew 9:9 ; 17:24 ; Mark 2:14 ; Luke 5:27 ) The only interest attaching to Capernaum is as the residence of our Lord and his apostles, the scene of so many miracles and “gracious words.” It was when he returned thither that he is said to have been “in the house.” ( Mark 2:1 ) The spots which lay claim to its site are, Kahn Minyeh, 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). Three miles north of Khan Minyeh is the other claimant, Tell Hum,—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 it with certainty, but the probability is in favor of Tell Hum .
Caphar
one of the numerous words employed in the Bible to denote a village or collection of dwellings smaller than a city (Ir). Mr Stanley proposes to render it by “hamlet.” In names of places it occurs in Chephar-he-Ammonai, Chephirah, Caphar-salama. To us its chief interest arises from its forming a part of the name of Capernaum, i.e. Capharnahum.
Chorazin
one of the cities in which our Lord’s mighty works were done, but named only in his denunciation. Matt. 11:21 ; Luke 10:13 St. Jerome describes it as on the shore of the lake, two miles from Capernaum, but its modern site is uncertain.