During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” Mark 8:1-4

            The incident occurred in the Region of Dalmanutha, where archaeologists are unsure of its precise location, but know it was in Gentile (non-Jewish) territory.  It could be also be known as Magdala, where Mary Magdalene was from.

            The first feeding of the 5,000 included Jews, which the disciples would immediately think deserved a miracle and food.  The second feeding was to non-Jews, which the disciples would immediately think didn’t deserve a miracle and food.  The prejudice was that deep that they would have rejected Jesus’ compassion for them and not believe Jesus would have repeated the first miracle for them.