And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples. It was not their wish to leave him, especially when the multitudes seemed likely to elect him king (John 6:15). But from the temptation to side with the multitudes our Lord desired now to shield them.
Separation and physical work (Matthew 14:24) would calm their excitement, and the object lesson that their Master already ruled over wind and sea would lead them to more perfect trust in his methods.
Another reason for his sending them forward may have been that they should use the failing light; and yet another, that he himself desired time for prayer. To get into a ship; a boat ( ἐμβῆναι εἰς πλοῖον); cf.
Matthew 8:23 (the boat, Revised Version, reading εἰς τὸ πλοῖον). And to go before him ( προάγειν αὐτόν: Matthew 2:9; Matthew 21:9). For he would follow. He fulfilled his promise much more literally than they anticipated.
Unto the other side. "Unto Bethsaida" (Mark); "unto Capernaum" (John). Probably they landed at the western Bethsaida (Matthew 8:13, note), in Gennesaret (Matthew 8:34), and went on to Capernaum, where our Lord again addressed the people (John 6:24-26).
While he sent—till he should send (Revised Version); ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ, Matthew 13:33—the multitudes away. Why should this take up time? Why did he not dismiss them then and there? Possibly they were too eager to carry out their own plans on his behalf to attend to only one expression of his wish.