Biblical Geographic

Nazareth was the home of Jesus during his upbringing. The time here was to make its mark, so that Jesus is known as Jesus of Nazareth and not Jesus of Bethlehem. After his birth in Bethlehem and his sojourn in Egypt, the family was to return here. Nazareth was considered a place of low reputation. Philip was to state: “can anything good come out of Nazareth?” John 1:46 But he was told to come and see.  The selection of such a place was to demonstrate the origins of the success of Jesus’ work. It would clearly demonstrate the power of God to influence men at a time when every avenue was exhausted, and the pillars of humanity could not provide their own champion. In the fullness of time God sent forth his son, made of a woman Gal 4;4; Eph 1:10 Abraham was called from a place of wickedness to display this principle Isa 41:9-11; Josh 24:1-3 and was instructed that when the times of the Amorites were full, that God would intervene for his people Gen 15:16 This was the understanding of Moses on the matter where he would say that Israel was brought into their inheritance not for their righteousness, but for the wickedness of the nations Deut 9:3-6 Paul was later to describe this principle when he turned from preaching to the jews and  turn to the gentiles. He was to describe the fulness of  Jewish ambition and achievement. They selected a king, and he died an inglorious end. God selected a king then in the time of their wickedness, and promised a hope of life to continue. The nation pursued their own achievement in keeping the law, and when it was fulfilled they killed their own messiah, and their nation would come to an end. But to those who accept grace there is “continuance” Acts 13.

Can there be any prophet come from Galilee? This was not considered the area of prophets! In fact there was one. Jonah was to come from Gath-hepher and Jesus would use his prophecy numerous times within his own message.

Christ was raised in Nazareth to fulfil a prophecy that he would be called a Nazarene Matt 2:22,23. Now this prophecy is interesting in that the word used is to describe a branch (Natzar). The origins of this branch were to be from the root of the cut down tree, Isa 11:1. So at the very time when national Israel was to be cut down as a nation Matt 3:10;  Mal 4:1 the spiritual origins of Christ would support a new type of growth. A branch God made strong for Himself Ps 80:15. This was to be described as the branch of righteousness Jer 23:5; 33:15;  the display of the operation of God, successful in the very time of organised revolt against him. Zech 3:8 A similar word is Nazar, meaning to be distinguished, and a descriptor of those who take a willing vow of service Num 6 The type of service seen in the high priest who carried on his head the mark of his distinguishment, and on his forehead the manifesto of his service: “holiness to Yahweh” Ex 28:36.

But to be a Nazarene was not only to be place of Jesus. There would be a new order called the “Nazarenes” Acts 24:5. These were those convinced by faith in the same operation of God Col 2:12 and the increase of his fruitful work seen in branches that grow over the wall Gen 49:22; Prov 11:28. The budding of this branch a prophetic picture of the fulness of the life of God revealed in Christ now shared with his brethren Isa 4:2; Rom 11:16-24.

The mount of precipitation is suggested as the place where Christ was marched to a precipice to kill him, Luke 4:16-30. The language used by the master is from the day of atonement where the day of liberty /  the year of Jubilee was proclaimed. Quoting from Isa 61 Jesus concludes before reading and the day of vengeance of our Elohim, indicating that there was time for a man to afflict his soul, that is to search personal aspirations and direction. Christ challenges them with examples of faith outside the nation that were accepted by deity, and questions their allegiance to the same faith.  The story finishes with the famed Jewish tradition of killing the scapegoat so it cannot return, a blight on the unbounding grace of deity in offering a life represented in the animal.  The widow of Zarapheth, and Naaman the Syrian would be accepted and strangers will feed your flocks Isa 61:5. This was a position to be granted the gentiles because of the faithlessness and unbending unacceptance of God’s son by Israel. “Their city” was built on this precipice, an indication of the foundations on which their belief was also built. God would not accept them for their brutal pushing away of the offer of salvation.

Limited archeological findings have been unearthed at Nazareth. Pottery from the middle bronze age (2200-1500BC) until 720BC when destroyed by the Assyrians have been found. (1) The only Hebrew reference to Nazareth was found in a synagogue near Caesarea. (2) One further interesting feature of the Nazareth hill chain is the presence of multiple oaks. It would have no doubt brought memories of Abraham to the Lord. (3)

1.  50 Major cities of the bible John Charles Hugh Laughlin pg 193,194
2. The Archeology of the new testament, the mediterranean world of the Christian apostles Jack Finegan pg185
3. Archeological encyclopaedia of the holy land Avraham Negev pg 549

Things to do at Nazareth:

• visit the mount of precipitation
• get on a bus (#16) and visit Sephoris

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Magdala [also known as Magdala Nunayya or Magdala of the fishes] is on the western shore of the sea of Galilee, 6km north of Tiberias. Magdala or the hebrew Migdal means watch tower, and is a common word used of numerous locations throughout biblical lands. The first familiar Migdal is just outside Bethlehem at the site where the temple Levites would select the lambs for the continual burnt offering for the day. The task of the shepherds who kept the flocks by night was the care of this specific flock. This pointed to the lamb of God who would be the perfect burnt offering, the very offering that would provide access to the Father, and was “accepted to make atonement” Lev 1:4.  Bethlehem is noted for the origins of the Messiah Micah 5:2 as addressed from “the tower (migdal) of the flock” Micah 4:8. It was here that the first dominion (over sin) would come. This is the equivalent term to Migdal Edar of Gen 35:21 where Jacob moved to after the tragedy of the sorrow of Rachel’s death in the name of Ben-oni “the son of my sorrow” is changed to Benjamin “the son of the right hand”. It was to here that Mary would come the mother of the Lord, her name meaning “sorrow”.

At the closing pictures of Christ’s life we see another Mary, coming to the tomb John 20:1, this time from another Migdal, in Galilee of the Gentiles. But both of these Marys would have their sorrow turned to joy at the revelation of the resurrection, and figuratively both Jew and Gentile would be blessed in the one having the perfect demonstration of the spirit of holiness, and the dominion over sin.

Mary Magdalene is referred to in Matthew 27:56,61,Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:9, Luke 8:2, John 20:1,18.

The town known as Taricheae was described as a wealthy Galilean town by Josephus (war iii.10) and was destroyed by the Romans may be this same town. Following the Jewish war there was one of the 24 centres of the priests located here. In 2009 an early synagogue was uncovered here, and the oldest stone depiction of a menorah. See the Israel Antiquities Authorities’ description:  http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=1601&module_id=#as

[View of the horns of Hattin from the east, standing at Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene]

It was only 14km…

The famous battle of the horns of Hattin between Saladin and uneasy alliance of Raymond de Chatillon and Guy of Lusignan led to the collapse of the 2nd crusade kingdom of Jerusalem on 2 July, 1187. Raymond de Chattilon had proved himself a royal nuisance by setting himself on the Arab caravans in southern Jordan, even following the requests of the king not to continue. The crusaders had established their position in Jerusalem because of the fortifications of the city, and the difficulty in supply for the besieging troops.
Saladin had established himself as the vizier of Egypt, had been accepted in Damascus, Mosul and Allepo and was becoming the undisputed military leader of the Muslim world. Although with popular support and several victories to indicate the strength of his military command, the efforts had come to a temporary stalemate with a victory over Saladin at Ramla by King Baldwin (Near Rishon le Zion). Saladin’s forces were decimated and Saladin fled on a camel from the battleground.
His strategy was to draw the crusaders from their points of strength. By entrapping Raymond’s wife Eschiva under siege at Tiberias, he lured the forces to march in very dry conditions away from water to challenge the siege. The forces marched slowly carrying “the true cross” leaving in the morning from Sephoria rather than marching at night.
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Immediately after leaving, the Frankish forces were placed under skirmishes by muslim cavalry, with the intent of slowing the travel of the host. By midday the army had only travelled 10km arriving at the waters at Turan, where the knights took water, but the remainder of the army was slaked.
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The afternoon saw further harassment of the troops by circling cavalry, and as soon as the army had cleared Turan, the waters was blocked by immediate action of Saladin’s horsemen. There was only one way to go, to the waters of the lake. When the army then reached the summit of the Horns, the western margins of Mt Arbel, the trap was set. The hot and wearied army was fatigued and without fortification. The tinder-dry grasses were set alight and the agitated horses reared leaving the helpless heavy armoured knights immobile in the inferno and easy targets. The result was a massacre. The bishop carrying “the true cross” was killed, the king’s tent was surrounded and both Raymond and Guy were captured. But the irony was still to come. Saladin in a grandiose gesture had his horsemen supply snow from Hermon in a cup to Guy who after drinking passed it to Raymond de Chattilon. Saladin used this as a pretext to kill Raymond, his bitter antagonist as this was outside normal rules of hospitality to take a cup un-offered.

Saladin wrote, “Satan incited Guy to do what ran counter to his purpose.” but God was using the Muslim forces to judge the catholic Rome. Sent from the bottomless pit (or the Abyss) an apt name for the expansive rift valley that separated the land from Syria and Jordan.

It was only 14 km to the waters that day, but the troops did not make it…