• Matthew 1

  • Video Introduction to the Book of Matthew

  • Gospel of Matthew—Some Major Events

  • A First-Century House

  • Matthew 2

  • Winter in Bethlehem

  • View of the Valley of Jezreel

  • Matthew 3

  • The Wilderness of Judea, West of the Jordan River

  • The Wilderness

  • John the Baptizer’s Clothing and Appearance

  • Locusts

  • Wild Honey

  • Garments Worn by a Pharisee in Jesus’ Day

  • Horned Viper

  • Sandals

  • Winnowing Grain

  • Threshing Tools

  • The Jordan River

  • Matthew 4

  • The Wilderness of Judea, West of the Jordan River

  • The Wilderness

  • Battlement of the Temple

  • North Shore of the Sea of Galilee, Looking Northwest

  • Casting a Net

  • Fish of the Sea of Galilee

  • Mending a Fishing Net

  • First-Century Fishing Boat

  • Remains of a Galilean Fishing Boat

  • First-Century Synagogue

  • Matthew 5

  • North Shore of the Sea of Galilee, Looking Northwest

  • Salt on the Shore of the Dead Sea

  • First-Century Oil Lamp

  • Domestic Lampstand

  • The Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna)

  • Modern-Day Valley of Hinnom

  • Certificate of Divorce

  • Matthew 6

  • First-Century Synagogue

  • “Your Clothing Has Become Moth-Eaten”

  • Lilies of the Field

  • Matthew 7

  • Wolf

  • Fig Tree, Grapevine, and Thornbush

  • Matthew 8

  • A Roman Centurion, or Army Officer, Dressed for Battle

  • Foxes’ Dens and Birds’ Nests

  • Cliffs on the Eastern Side of the Sea of Galilee

  • Matthew 9

  • North Shore of the Sea of Galilee, Looking Northwest

  • Jesus Invites Matthew to Be His Follower

  • Animal Skins Used to Store Wine

  • First-Century Synagogue

  • Matthew 10

  • Staff and Food Pouch

  • Wolf

  • Whip for Scourging

  • Typical Flat-Roofed Houses

  • The Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna)

  • Sparrow

  • Matthew 11

  • Royal Houses

  • The Marketplace

  • Bone Flute

  • Chorazin and Bethsaida

  • Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida

  • Yoke

  • Matthew 12

  • Kernels of Grain

  • First-Century Synagogue

  • Horned Viper

  • Matthew 13

  • The Sea of Galilee Near Capernaum

  • Sowing Seed

  • Remains of Ancient Storehouses at Masada

  • Reapers

  • Mustard Grain

  • Fishermen Hauling in a Dragnet

  • Matthew 14

  • Coin Made by Herod Antipas

  • Northeast Portion of the Sea of Galilee

  • Fish and Loaves

  • Baskets

  • Matthew 15

  • Baskets

  • Magadan on the Sea of Galilee

  • Matthew 16

  • Baskets

  • From the Sea of Galilee to the Region of Caesarea Philippi

  • Matthew 17

  • Mount Hermon

  • Mount Hermon As Seen From the Hula Valley Nature Reserve

  • Matthew 18

  • Millstone

  • Upper and Lower Millstones

  • The Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna)

  • The Shepherd and His Sheep

  • Matthew 19

  • East of the Jordan​—Perea

  • Certificate of Divorce

  • Camel

  • Matthew 20

  • The Marketplace

  • Whip for Scourging

  • Matthew 21

  • Bethphage, the Mount of Olives, and Jerusalem

  • Colt, or Young Donkey

  • Winepress

  • Matthew 22

  • Tiberius Caesar

  • Matthew 23

  • Scripture-Containing Case, or Phylactery

  • First-Century Synagogue

  • The Front Seats in the Synagogue

  • Prominent Places at Evening Meals

  • The Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna)

  • Modern-Day Valley of Hinnom

  • Mint, Dill, and Cumin

  • Camel

  • Horned Viper

  • Whip for Scourging

  • A Hen Gathering Her Chicks

  • Matthew 24

  • Stones From the Temple Mount

  • Mount of Olives

  • Outer Garments

  • Fig Tree

  • Hand Mill

  • Matthew 25

  • Winnowing Grain

  • Matthew 26

  • Alabaster Jar

  • The Passover Meal

  • Vine

  • Matthew 27

  • Inscription Bearing the Name Pontius Pilate

  • Nail in a Heel Bone

  • Tomb Chamber

  • Matthew 28

  • Tomb Chamber

The items shown in the illustrations and 3-D video footage in the Media Gallery are based on extensive research. However, they are artists’ renditions and, at times, depict only one of several possibilities.

Foxes’ Dens and Birds’ Nests

Foxes’ Dens and Birds’ Nests

Jesus contrasted his own situation of not having a permanent home with foxes that have dens and birds that have nests. The type of foxes shown here (Vulpes vulpes) inhabit not only the Middle East but also Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America and have been introduced into Australia. Unless foxes use a natural crevice or the deserted or usurped burrow of another animal, they commonly dig holes in the ground to form their dens. The bird, a Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti), is one of an estimated 470 varieties that may be found in Israel at some time during the course of a year. Bird’s nests likewise are diverse, located in trees, in hollow tree trunks, and on cliffs, and are made of such materials as twigs, leaves, seaweed, wool, straw, moss, and feathers. The diverse topography of the country, ranging from cool mountain peaks to deep sweltering valleys and from arid deserts to maritime plains all lying together near the southeast corner of the Mediterranean Sea, makes it an attractive habitat for birds that either live here permanently or migrate throughout the region.

Dorit Bar-Zakay/Moment Open/Getty Images; © DEA/L ANDENA/age fotostock

Related Scripture(s)

Mt 8:20; Lu 9:58
Matthew 1
Matthew 2
Matthew 3
Matthew 4
Matthew 5
Matthew 6
Matthew 7
Matthew 8
Matthew 9
Matthew 10
Matthew 11
Matthew 12
Matthew 13
Matthew 14
Matthew 15
Matthew 16
Matthew 17
Matthew 18
Matthew 19
Matthew 20
Matthew 21
Matthew 22
Matthew 23
Matthew 24
Matthew 25
Matthew 26
Matthew 27
Matthew 28