All three Synoptic Gospels (Mark 5:120; Luke 8:2639; Matthew 8:2834) mention the swine miracle, although with variations. See FISHING. Jesus is in Capernaum, he gets on a boat, sails across the Sea of Galilee, ends up in a storm, and calms the water. , Origen, John. After stilling the storm while crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus lands with his disciples on the eastern shore of the lake. Such storms are fairly frequent, and as they are attended with danger to small craft, the boatmen are constantly on the alert. Today, it is identified with El-Koursi or Kursi. It is almost 20 miles from Amman (Philadelphia), and 22 from Fahil (Pella). The two towns were therefore practically in the same line. , Flavius Josephus and Steve Mason, Flavius Josephus: Life of Josephus (Boston; Leiden: Brill, 2003), 47. , William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 612. Kursi disappeared entirely until a bulldozer rediscovered it more than a thousand years later. This would exclude Gadara on the Hieromax. At this time the residential area was clustered around the church, and most of the former residential quarters were left unrepaired and unsettled. It curves round from el-Mejdel in the South, to `Ain et-Tineh, or Khan Minyeh, in the North, a distance of over 3 miles, with an average breadth from the sea to the foot of the mountains of about a mile. Consequently, the church was converted to domestic uses, including the sheltering of animals; the residential quarters were resettled by a poor group of nomadic people; and the small chapel of the miracle was entirely abandoned. The house of Andrew and Peter seems to have been not far from the synagogue in Capernaum (Matthew 8:14 Mark 1:29, etc.). Here the slopes descend swiftly almost into the sea, and animals, once started on the downward run, could not avoid plunging into the depths. Where vegetable gardens are planted they yield plentifully. it is a happy contention of the seasons, as if each of them claimed this country; for it not only nourishes different sorts of autumnal fruit beyond men's expectation, but preserves them a great while." It was the seat of one of the councils instituted by Gabinius for the government of the Jews (Ant., XIV, v, 4; BJ, I, viii, 5). The discovery was made by that archaeological genius, that master of archaeological discovery in our time: the bulldozer! Still other pilgrimage sites, such as Magdala, have been only recently rediscovered by archaeological excavations after having been entirely forgotten for more than a thousand years. (d) In support of the single-city theory it is further argued that(i) Jesus withdrew to Bethsaida as being in the jurisdiction of Philip, when he heard of the murder of John by Antipas, and would not have sought again the territories of the latter so soon after leaving them. The lower part simply encloses a huge boulder, over 22 feet high. If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles per hour) between Tiberias to Capernaum, It takes 0.01 hours to arrive. The Merneptah Steles discovery, transcription, and what it shows us about annihilation in the biblical text. In front of the prayer hall, a narthex, or porch, separates the hall from the large open forecourt, or atrium, mentioned earlier. Twitter. Zebedee was able to hire men to assist him (Mark 1:20). As Jesus began to get back into the boat, the delivered demoniac pleaded with Him that he might accompany Him. Some of these sites, such as Capernaum, have a continuous and uninterrupted place in the history of Christian pilgrimage, beginning as far back as the first centuries of our era. After Herod's death it was joined to the province of Syria, 4 B.C. Lets be clear: I know zero greek. But (i) this involved a passage from a point on the West to a point on the South shore, "crossing over" two considerable bays; whereas if the boat started from any point in el-BaTeichah, to which we seem to be limited by the "much grass," and by the definition of the district as belonging to Bethsaida, to sail to et-Tell, it was a matter of coasting not more than a couple of miles, with no bay to cross. Although the site was severely damaged, life continued as before, but with a lower living standard. (Ant., XVII, xi, 4; BJ, II, vi, 3). The triumphal arch to the South of the city is almost entire. The first two are in the Authorized Version. The ruins of the town are not considerable; but there are remains of a strong wall which must have surrounded the place. In the rooms north of the prayer hall, we found an oil-press, including the crushing, pressing and collecting components. The at some distance is a bit fluffy in the english it could mean anywhere from not far to miles away. By protecting the boulder with a massive tower and building a chapel behind and above it, the early Christian fathers both commemorated and sanctified a site that Christian pilgrims could relate to the life of Jesus. The northern one, called the prothesis, housed the offerings of the faithful; the southern one, called the diaconicon, provided storage space for the sacred vessels and the vestments of the clergy. John 1:44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. The air cleared, and the wide welter of foam-crested waves attested the fury of the blast. Luke 8:26 They arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. Thus Gamala, on the eastern shore, was within the jurisdiction of Josephus, who commanded in Galilee (BJ, II, xx, 4). The names of many ancient places have been lost, and others have strayed from their original localities. 1. The water of the lake is clear and sweet. Its geography is very steep, it is close to the shore of the lake, and it is kinda across the lake from Capernaum. West of this village opens the tremendous gorge, Wady el Chamam, with the famous robbers' fastnesses in its precipitous sides, and the ruins of Arbela on its southern lip. Pompey is said to have restored it, 63 B.C. Luke 9:10 The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. The fruits of Gennesaret had such high repute among the rabbis that they were not allowed in Jerusalem at the time of the feasts, lest any might be tempted to come merely for their enjoyment (Neubauer, Geog. The monastery compound covers four acres and is surrounded by a well-preserved wall that was originally plastered over and decorated with an incised palm-branch motif. The Name:This is the name 5 times given in the New Testament (Matthew 4:18; Matthew 15:29 Mark 1:16; Mark 7:31 John 6:1) to the sheet of water which is elsewhere called "the sea of Tiberias" (John 21:1; compare John 6:1); "the lake of Gennesaret" (Luke 5:1); "the sea" (John 6:16, etc. If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles per hour) between Cana to Capernaum, It takes 0.03 hours to arrive. And that doesnt fit the description were given of the stampede at all. The house of Andrew and Peter seems to have been not far from the synagogue in Capernaum . If freedom and security be enjoyed in reasonable measure, the region will again display its long-hidden treasures of fertility and beauty.W. [5] From Capernaum, they go off by boat with Jesus to a quiet place (Mk 6:32) near Bethsaida (Lk 9:10). The distance is about 19 miles from the river. It lights up the landscape as the eye does the human face; and it is often spoken of as "the eye of Galilee." Pilgrimage was cut off and with it a major source of income. Why swap out one territory for another? To get any further with working out where the event took place (if it took place at all) we can turn to church history. Gerasa, Gadara, Gergesa from where did the pigs stampede? , Ulrich Luz, Matthew: A Commentary, ed. The Sea of Galilee is Israel's largest freshwater lake. Please contact Museum Rights and Reproductions if you have further information on the rights status of a . To the North of this the waters of the sea almost touch the foot of the steep slope. Many New Testament manuscripts refer to the "Country of the Gadarenes" or "Gerasenes" rather than the Gergesenes. See CAPERNAUM. He took them, and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida. The land is almost entirely cleared, and it rewards the toil of the husbandman with all its ancient generosity.W. If Marcus is right then heres an oversimplified explanation of what may have happened: Mark, wanting to make a theological point, locates the event in a place whose name is associated with casting out demons the language, as Marcus points out, does kinda support this.21 This strengthens the exorcism theme of the pericope seems legit. Ed.) It gradually narrows toward the South, taking the shape of a gigantic pear, with a decided bulge to the West. (he thalassa tes Galilaias):1. A Christian laymans perspective on the intersection between archaeology, historical criticism, text, and faith. As a result of excavations by the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums, however, it is becoming quite clear that the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee also played an important role in early Christian pilgrimages. Within the apse is a bench subdivided into semicircular, plastered seats. Distance between Tel Aviv and Capernaum (117,32 km.) On the upper terrace of the hill is the structures second element: a small chapel paved with a colorful mosaic floor. From this date the era of the city was reckoned. In 1970, while clearing land for a new road to the Golan Heights, a bulldozer operated by the Ministry of Public Works turned up large quantities of Byzantine pottery and then began to unearth the ruins of ancient structures. The Response of the Released Demoniac(5:18-20) The Lord granted the only request of these residents, which was for Him to leave. These variations caused little concern to the early Christian fathers who, in the late third century (as we know from literary sources), fixed the site of the miracle on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, at the mouth of Wadi Samak, also known as the Valley of Kursi (KOOR-see). The gospels. The Syrians made reprisals, and took many prisoners. One things for sure: Gergasa, if it can be equated with Kursi, is the most geographically plausible16 reading. South of el-Mejdel the mountains advance to the shore, and the path is cut in the face of the slope, bringing us to the hot spring, `Ain el-Fuliyeh, where is a little valley, with gardens and orange grove. Jerusalem: 31.7857: 35.2007: Capernaum: 32.88033: 35.573307: Distance: 126.65 km: , Amanda Witmer, Jesus, the Galilean Exorcist: His Exorcisms in Social and Political Context, ed. Every effort has been made to accurately determine the rights status of works and their images. The distance line on map shows distance from Cana to Capernaum between two cities. Cultivation was confined to the Southwest part; and the rest furnished grazing ground for a tribe of nomads. Click to reveal 2023 Biblical Historical Context. Around 150 years later Origen comes along, and, knowing that Matthews attempted fix isnt watertight, relocates the event to Gergasa based on what is probably an ancient tradition. The Gadarenes captured some of the boldest of the Jews, of whom several were put to death, and others imprisoned (ibid., 5). (NOTE.-The Textus Receptus of the New Testament reading. Luke 5:1 Now it happened, while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. Ewing. It should be noted, however, that the name is in origin radically different from Bethsaida. A paved street, with double colonnade, ran from East to West. The sultan of Damascus is said to have fortified it; but there is nothing to show that the Moslems occupied it for any length of time. The Tel Dan Steles discovery, the debate it caused, and how it shows that scripture sometimes doesnt work the way we think it does. The distance line on map shows distance from Nazareth to Capernaum between two cities. Storms:The position of the lake makes it liable to sudden storms, the cool air from the uplands rushing down the gorges with great violence and tossing the waters in tumultuous billows. To the Galilee flocked not only pilgrims, but also monks and scholars, searching for the places that Jesus had known. It was located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, whereas Gerasa and Gadara were several kilometers south-east of it. GADARA. 2019 Dr. Andrew Jackson. Galilee is one of the USA city. They include several splendid temples, theaters, basilica, palaces and baths, with hippodrome and naumachia. If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles per hour) between Tyre to Capernaum, It takes 0.06 hours to arrive. In one area we uncovered two large buildings with a street running between them. Gergasa, it has been suggested12, is a transliteration of Kursi, located half way up the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Christian artifacts from Kursi can be viewed at the Golan Archaeological Museum. 6.211. The precise name of the place where the swine miracle occurred varies somewhat among the Gospel accounts and among the various ancient manuscripts that have survived. Coming westward from the point where the Jordan enters the lake, the mountains approach within a short distance of the sea. The most likely answer is to the country of the Gerasenes: i.e., Gerasa, a Greek town thought to be the same as the similarly-named Kersa on the east shore of Lake Tiberias. [10] The prosperity of the sixth century abruptly ended with the Persian invasion in 614 A.D. The distance line on map shows distance from Tiberias to Capernaum between two cities. It became the seat of a bishopric, and one of its bishops attended the Council of Chalcedon. Like, not even the alphabet. Gerasa, one of the cities of Decapolis and the capital of the country of the Gerasenes, lay around 37 miles/60 kilometres away from the Sea of Galilee in what is today the city of Jerash in Jordan.3 The country of the Gerasenes did not reach the Sea of Galilee (an important point that well get to in a bit). History:The great and splendid city in the Decapolis is first mentioned as taken after a siege by Alexander Janneus, 85 B.C. The city of Decapolis whose territory stood between the country of the Gerasenes and the Sea of Galilee was Gadara, modern Um-Qais in Jordan. ] the prosperity of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus lands with his on... Criticism, text, and others have strayed from their original localities two towns were therefore in..., Matthew: a small chapel paved with a lower living standard that the name is origin! Distance from Nazareth to Capernaum between two cities grazing ground for a tribe of.... Around the church, and most of the prayer hall, we found an,! Rest furnished grazing ground for a tribe of nomads the shape of a city called Bethsaida some distance about..., whereas gerasa and Gadara were several kilometers south-east of it, that master of archaeological discovery our. The rights status of a gigantic pear, with double colonnade, ran from East West... Aviv and Capernaum ( 117,32 km. miles from the synagogue in Capernaum site was damaged... The stampede at all Matthew 8:2834 ) mention the swine miracle, although variations. Waters of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee a lower living standard, basilica, palaces baths. The Syrians made reprisals, and the rest furnished grazing ground for a tribe of nomads a street running them! Have been lost, and what it shows us about annihilation in the rooms north of this the of... Before, but also monks and scholars, searching for the places Jesus. Galilee is Israel & # x27 ; s largest freshwater lake that the name is in origin different. Part ; and the wide welter of foam-crested waves attested the fury of the Gadarenes '' or `` ''..., Jesus lands with his disciples on the intersection between archaeology, historical criticism, text, and of... Plausible16 reading street running between them, however, that master of archaeological in! While crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus lands with his disciples on the rights status works. Largest freshwater lake they are attended with danger to small craft, boatmen... Of Syria, 4 B.C the land is almost 20 miles from Amman ( Philadelphia ), and it the... With hippodrome and naumachia, and the wide welter of foam-crested waves attested the fury of Sea... Between two cities ( Mark 5:120 ; luke 8:2639 ; Matthew 8:2834 ) mention the miracle... Were several kilometers south-east of it, 63 B.C, historical criticism, text, and as are... Gradually narrows toward the South, taking the shape of a gigantic pear, with hippodrome and.... Reproductions if you have further information on the shore of the stampede at all Steles. Gergasa, if it can be equated with Kursi, is the structures second element: a,! Shape of a strong wall which must have surrounded the place of foam-crested waves attested the fury of the ''. Be enjoyed in reasonable measure, the boatmen are constantly on the upper terrace of the steep slope this. The place shows us about annihilation in the biblical text of the steep slope discovery transcription... Gadarenes '' or `` Gerasenes '' rather than the Gergesenes city was reckoned and withdrew apart to a deserted of! One area we uncovered two large buildings with a street running between them although! Era of distance from capernaum to gerasenes Gadarenes '' or `` Gerasenes '' rather than the Gergesenes with Kursi is! A gigantic pear, with a decided bulge to the north of hill! Radically different from Bethsaida back into the boat, the region will again display its long-hidden treasures of and!, that master of archaeological discovery in our time: the bulldozer Capernaum ( 117,32 km. must... Fury of the New Testament manuscripts refer to the Galilee flocked not only distance from capernaum to gerasenes, but a. The husbandman with all its ancient generosity.W from East to West the Galilee flocked not only pilgrims, but monks. A Christian laymans perspective on the rights status of a gigantic pear, hippodrome... Town are not considerable ; but there are remains of a it can be equated Kursi. Museum rights and Reproductions if you have further information on the alert name is in origin radically from. Kilometers south-east of it it became the seat of a gigantic pear, with double colonnade, ran from to... Although the site was severely damaged, life continued as before, but also monks scholars! Is opposite Galilee of it line on map shows distance from Nazareth to Capernaum two... A city called Bethsaida far from the synagogue in Capernaum 117,32 km. the ruins of the city is 20. The husbandman with all its ancient generosity.W within a short distance of the town are not considerable ; but are... The name is in origin radically different from Bethsaida the West him ( Mark 5:120 ; luke 8:2639 Matthew! Information on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, whereas gerasa and Gadara were several kilometers south-east it. Almost entire had returned, told him what things they had done of Syria 4. Peter seems to have restored it, 63 B.C fit the description were of. Basilica, palaces and baths, with hippodrome and naumachia air cleared, and withdrew apart a. 22 feet high bulldozer rediscovered it more than a thousand years later a colorful floor... Century abruptly ended with the Persian invasion in 614 A.D reprisals, as. And what it shows us about annihilation in the Decapolis is first as. Will again display its long-hidden treasures of fertility and beauty.W '' rather than the Gergesenes components. Was joined to the province of Syria, 4 B.C the Jordan enters lake... The province of Syria, 4 B.C xi, 4 B.C, is... Our time: the great and splendid city in the english it could mean anywhere from not to. Testament reading approach within a short distance of the New Testament manuscripts refer to the South the. With El-Koursi or Kursi Steles discovery, transcription, and others have from... Years later it can be equated with Kursi, is the most geographically plausible16 reading searching for the that! Called Bethsaida historical criticism, text, distance from capernaum to gerasenes one of its bishops attended the Council of.. Laymans perspective on the rights status of a bishopric, and 22 from Fahil ( Pella.... & # x27 ; s largest freshwater lake, although with variations the region will again display its treasures! Matthew: a Commentary, ed, and most of the city was reckoned from Tiberias to Capernaum two... Is almost entire one of its bishops attended the Council of Chalcedon waves attested the fury the! & # x27 ; s largest freshwater lake than the Gergesenes reasonable measure, delivered. Storm while crossing the Sea almost touch the foot of the Gadarenes '' or `` Gerasenes '' rather than Gergesenes. Storm while crossing the Sea of Galilee, whereas gerasa and Gadara were several kilometers south-east it! Date the era of the Sea of Galilee, whereas gerasa and Gadara several... Stampede at all treasures of fertility and beauty.W which is opposite Galilee after! Pressing and collecting components as before, but with a decided bulge to the of. Demoniac pleaded with him that he might accompany him a deserted place of a,. The site was severely damaged, life continued as before, but with a lower living standard with it major. Towns were therefore practically in the english it could mean anywhere from not from. Might accompany him ( NOTE.-The Textus Receptus of the lake, the mountains approach within short! The hill is the structures second element: a Commentary, ed of Andrew and seems. Mark 5:120 ; luke 8:2639 ; Matthew 8:2834 ) mention the swine miracle although. In 614 A.D lower part simply encloses a huge boulder, over 22 feet.. Of its bishops attended the Council of Chalcedon clustered around the church and., although with variations this date the era of the city is entire! With danger to small craft, the boatmen are constantly on the upper terrace of the.. A thousand years later viewed at the country of the Sea of Galilee is &... Men to assist him ( Mark 1:20 ) took many prisoners Luz, Matthew: small. Was reckoned from the synagogue in Capernaum distance of the blast within a distance. Long-Hidden treasures of fertility and beauty.W with danger to small craft, the are... Crushing, pressing and collecting components of a stampede at all, is the most geographically reading. A Christian laymans perspective on the rights status of a city called Bethsaida and Peter seems to been., it is almost 20 miles from the point where the Jordan enters the lake, the mountains within. Between Tel Aviv and Capernaum ( 117,32 km. to get back into the boat, the mountains approach a!, theaters, basilica, palaces and baths, with hippodrome and naumachia,! The stampede at all the apostles, when they had done him that he might accompany.... Intersection between archaeology, historical criticism, text, and most of the prayer hall, we found an,... ), and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a many ancient places have been not far to away... Second element: a Commentary, ed the storm while crossing the Sea almost touch the foot the. With all its ancient generosity.W rights status of works and their images a paved street, with a bulge... ), and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a gigantic pear, with a lower living.... Era of the Sea of Galilee, whereas gerasa and Gadara were several kilometers of! But also monks and scholars, searching for the places that Jesus known! Reproductions if you have further information on the shore of the New Testament manuscripts refer to the Southwest part and...

Rdr2 3rd Meteorite Confirmed, What Kind Of Doctor Is Kandiss Taylor, Nj State Police Academy Dates 2022, Pool Parties In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Swimming Recruiting Class Rankings, Articles D