This condition is fulfilled only by the district immediately South of Wady Semak, North of Qal `at el-Chucn. Soon after the sites final abandonment, alluvial soil from the Wadi Samak covered this important Christian holy place. In addition to the domestic uses of oilin foods, as well as in lampsvials of holy oil were often given or sold to pilgrims. :Many scholars maintain that all the New Testament references to Bethsaida apply to one place, namely, Bethsaida Julias. You need 2 hour to reach Jerusalem, Israel from Capernaum, Israel, if you are travelling by car. At the center is a large prayer hall in the form of a basilica. The prosperity of the sixth century abruptly ended with the Persian invasion in 614 A.D. There are some ruins now on this spot still known by the very slight corruption of Kerzha. It was located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, whereas Gerasa and Gadara were several kilometers south-east of it. Helmut Koester, Hermeneiaa Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2001), 23. Ewing. The heights of Naphtali, piled up in the North, seem to culminate only in the snowy summit of Great Hermon. The Sea of Galilee is Israel's largest freshwater lake. MATTHEW. Pompey is said to have restored it, 63 B.C. Reland (Pal, II, 806) notes certain extant coins of Gerasa, from which it is clear that in the 2nd century it was a center of the worship of Artemis. In 1 Maccabees 11:67 the sea is called "the water of Gennesar" (the Revised Version (British and American) "Gennesareth"). Average amount of gas with an average car when travelling from Capernaum, Israel to Jerusalem, Israel will be 7 gallons gallons . It is probably represented by the modern Jedur, not far from es-Salt (Buhl, Buhl, Geographic des alten Palastina, 255; Guthe). It was on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and must have been a locality where the steep edges of the Bashan plateau drop close upon the brink of the lake. ger'-a-sa, ger'-a-senz (Gerasa; Gerasenon):1. Other sites, Tabga for example, were restored in the last decades of the 19th century, after centuries of neglect and abandonment. The location of the incident of the "Gadarene . 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." All three of these New Testament variants have solid textual support. Mark 8:22 He came to Bethsaida. (c) The words of Mark (Mark 6:45), it is suggested (Sanday, Sacred Sites of the Gospels, 42), have been too strictly interpreted: as the Gospel was written probably at Rome, its author being a native, not of Galilee, but of Jerusalem. THE brief harvest in Samaria was, as Jesus had indicated to His disciples, in another sense also the beginning of sowing-time, or at least . Alexander Janneus invested the place, and reduced it after a ten months' siege (Ant., XIII, iii, 3; BJ, I, iv, 2). The Moslems who took over were not sensitive to the religious importance of the site. From Mount Tabor to Capernaum: Step 27: From Caperaum to Nain: Step 28: From Nain to the second Galilean preaching tour: Step 29: From the second Galilean preaching tour to the country of Gerasenes: Step 30: From he country of Gerasenes to Capernaum: Step 31: From Capernaum to Jerusalem: Step 32: From Jerusalem to Nazareth: Step 33 One things for sure: Gergasa, if it can be equated with Kursi, is the most geographically plausible16 reading. To get any further with working out where the event took place (if it took place at all) we can turn to church history. In a few moments the air was thick with mist, through which one could hear the roar of the tortured waters. From the northern parts of the lake the Horns of ChaTTin, the traditional Mount of Beatitudes, may be seen through the rocky jaws of the gorge. The lake and mountains are, in main outline, such as His eyes beheld. Unfortunately, the most severe damage to the mosaics occurred in the nave. The place might therefore be called with propriety, either "land of the Gerasenes," with reference to the local center, or "land of the Gadarenes," with reference to the superior city. Fragments of an elaborate border, however, remain intact. It is therefore significant that only the Fourth Gospel speaks of "Bethsaida of Galilee. Tabor and approaching the edge of the great hollow, on a bright spring day, when the land has already assumed its fairest garments, the view of the sea, as it breaks upon the vision in almost its whole extent, is one never to be forgotten. (Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26) In Gerasenes in place of Gadarenes. It was taken by Antiochus the Great when in 218 B.C. (In Matthew, the story tells of two demoniacs.) Therefore it was no contrary wind that carried them toward Capernaum and the "land of Gennesaret." In the early Roman period, an important urban settlement with a safe anchorage stood here. The site chosen is located exactly opposite Capernaum, from which Jesus sailed on the day of the miracle. Nearly opposite Tiberias is the stronghold of Chal`-at el Chocn, possibly the ancient Hippos, with the village of Fik, the ancient Aphek, on the height to the East. It is the only place fitting Matthew's description, since it contains the only "steep bank" in the area descending all the way to the shore of the lake. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1615141b8e2bf0 Kefar-nahum, "Village of Nahum") was a prosperous . The water of the lake is clear and sweet. Jerash, ancient Gerasa Seen from the mountains the broad sheet appears a beautiful blue; so that, in the season of greenery, it is no exaggeration to describe it as a sapphire in a setting of emerald. 80, The Fathers of the Church (Catholic University of America Press, 1989), 226. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Inside the compound, near this western entrance, we uncovered the remains of a large, well-constructed building that probably functioned as a guest-house or hospice for pilgrims. Bacon, At the beginning of the Jewish revolt the country around Gadara was laid waste (BJ, II, xviii, 1). If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles per hour) between Jerusalem to Capernaum, It takes 0.14 hours to arrive. They are closed by carved stone doors, and are used as storehouses for grain, and also as dwellings by the inhabitants. Giu 11, 2022 | how to calculate calories per serving in a recipe. These motifs were taken from artists notebooks that were used throughout the Mediterranean world, not only during the Byzantine period, but also before and after. The demons inside the man beg to be allowed to enter a nearby herd of swine, numbering about 2,000 according to Mark. de-kap'-o-lis (Dekapolis): The name given to the region occupied by a league of "ten cities" (Matthew 4:25 Mark 5:20; Mark 7:31), which Eusebius defines (in Onomastica) as "lying in the Peraea, round Hippos, Pella and Gadara."Such combinations of Greek cities arose as Rome assumed dominion in the East, to promote their common interests in trade and commerce, and for mutual . Colorful mosaics, covering about 8,600 square feet, originally paved the entire church. 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. This it is that lends its highest charm to "the eye of Galilee. The absence of any name resembling Bethsaida need not concern us.Were There Two Bethsaidas? Heres where Matthew locates the pigs: Mt 8:30 Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. The triumphal arch to the South of the city is almost entire. In about ten minutes the wind fell as suddenly as it had risen. It was conquered by the Moslems in the time of Omar (Guy le Strange, Palestine under the Moslems, 462). (NOTE.-The Textus Receptus of the New Testament reading. Today, it is identified with El-Koursi or Kursi. The Gerasa of Mark 5:1 was probably Kursi/Gergesa. (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. Toward the end of the eighth century, the monastery compound was again abandoned. Josephus explains that the country of the Gadarenes reached the shore of the lake: the villages of the Gadarenes happened to lie on the frontier between Tiberias and the territory of the Scythopolitans.4. a site named Khersa (or Kursi) among the cliffs overlooking the lakethe traditional site, but with little to argue in its favor. The rooms on each side of the prayer hall were used for auxiliary purposes. , Amanda Witmer, Jesus, the Galilean Exorcist: His Exorcisms in Social and Political Context, ed. The agreement of these two favors the strict interpretation. At the end of the nave is a semicircular apse. According to local tradition, the ruins of this structure bore the name of Gersa or Gursa. The walls of the structure are more than 3 feet thick. Both Gerasa and Gadara were cities to the east of the Sea of Galilee and the River Jordan. (Ant., XVII, xi, 4; BJ, II, vi, 3). It is almost 20 miles from Amman (Philadelphia), and 22 from Fahil (Pella). He therefore took it upon himself to change the geographical details to make them more realistic. Its interesting then that Matthew locates the pigs not on the hillside from where they could have rushed down the steep bank into the sea. After Jesus heals him/them, the demons are sent into a herd of pigs. The factors that led to this site selection were undoubtedly: (1) its location on the eastern shore of the lake; (2) its proximity to an urban center (variously named Gergessa, Gadara and Gerasa); and (3) its topographical setting, in particular the steep hill where the swine herd had presumably been grazing. About 2 miles farther West are the hot springs of eT-Tabgha. Distance between Tel Aviv and Capernaum (117,32 km.) 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. (Ant., XIV, iv, 4; BJ, I, vii, 7); from which it would appear to have declined in Jewish hands. The soil is deep, rich loam, of amazing fertility. Although the site was severely damaged, life continued as before, but with a lower living standard. These differences caused copyists of the gospels to perform no end of monkey-business with the sentence there are 3 variants for each of the synoptic gospels.2 Were looking at a genuine problem that was recognised very early. 3. Round the greater part of the lake there is a broad pebbly beach, with a sprinkling of small shells. This is a difficulty for Marks account the pigs would have had to trot many miles from the country of the Gerasenes before they even reached the hillside that overlooks the lake, never mind actually get to the lake itself. The soil on the level parts around the sea is exceedingly fertile. JOHN. The fig and the vine are still cultivated with success. , Glenn F. Chesnut, Eusebius of Caesarea (Person), ed. This is doubtless to be identified with the village of Bethsaida in Lower Gaulonitis which the Tetrarch Philip raised to the rank of a city, and called Julias, in honor of Julia, the daughter of Augustus. I just think that in this case theres a better explanation. Further, Luke places the country of the Gerasenes on the other side of the sea from Galilee . A steamer plies on the sea between the station at Semakh and Tiberias. The ruins are wide and imposing and are better preserved than any others on the East of Jordan. 1. The chapel has an apse constructed within a natural rock shelter. Gardens and orchards are being planted. The rest of the mosaics were laid earlier, probably shortly after the church was built at the beginning of the sixth century. Smooth plaster covered the rock walls of the apse. In most cases they have gone, leaving not even their names with any certainty behind; but His memory abides forever. Tyre: 33.2721571: 35.203278: Capernaum: 32.88033: 35.573307: Distance: 55.56 km: 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. 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. Although the ruins of this settlement, known as Tell el-Kursi, can still be seen, the site remains unexcavated. II, ix, 1). Both Gerasa and Gadara were cities to the east of the Sea of Galilee and the River Jordan. The miracle of the swine took place during Jesus' visit to "the land of the Gadarenes," "the land of the Gerasenes," or "the land of the Gergesenes.". , Also, Id like to think Ive demonstrated elsewhere on this site that Im more than comfortable with the notion that the biblical text contains genuine errors, contradictions, etc. According to Mark, night and day he cries out on the mountains and bruises himself with stones. 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. History:The great and splendid city in the Decapolis is first mentioned as taken after a siege by Alexander Janneus, 85 B.C. Cataloging is a continuous work in progress, however, and we welcome your input to enhance our understanding and presentation of the collection. Many ancient tombs are to be seen in the face of the hills. The settlement was quite well planned and carefully organized. But Gergesa, from which comes the name the Gergesenes, is an ancient city in the vicinity of the lake which is now called Tiberias. Driving distance between Capernaum, Israel and Jerusalem, Israel is calculated by google maps and it is 99 mi. [5] From Capernaum, they go off by boat with Jesus to a quiet place (Mk 6:32) near Bethsaida (Lk 9:10). Powered by, View over Kursi toward the Sea of Galilee, The Black Obelisks journey from Nimrud to London, A critical assessment of the scientific explanation for the Ten Plagues in The Exodus Decoded Plague 7: Hail. He says that it supplies grapes and figs through ten months of the year, and other fruits as they ripen together throughout the year (same place). Gergesa was a small and very obscure town nearly opposite Capernaum. Robert L. Webb and Mark Allan Powell, vol. The mountains on the East and on the West rise to about 2,000 ft. It was conquered by the Moslems in the time of Omar (Guy le Strange, Palestine under the Moslems, 462). This describes the district in which Christ met and healed the demoniac from the tombs, where also took place the destruction of the swine. Pilgrimage was cut off and with it a major source of income. See FISHING. gad'-a-ra (Gadara):1. As in the case of the other Bethsaida, no name has been recovered to guide us to the site. One of the most significant sites on the eastern shore is the place where the so-called swine miracle is thought to have occurred. , James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 154. Nevertheless, life continued at Kursi. Here the mountains recede from the shore, leaving a crescent-shaped plain, largely covered with the ruins of the ancient city. Even if Judas were born in Gamala, and so might properly be called a Gaulonite, he may, like others, have come to be known as belonging to the province in which his active life was spent. From the beginning of our work, it was clear that we were excavating the remains of a large, walled settlement of a religious character, undoubtedly a monastery that included a well-built basilica of exceptional quality. When we excavated this structure in 1980, we discovered that this was the very site of the miracle, as fixed by Christians in the mid-third century. This street was over 25 feet wide and was paved with carefully cut, black basalt stones. Description: Jesus agrees, so the demons or unclean spirits leave the man and enter the swine, which then rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned., The cured demoniac begs to accompany Jesus, but Jesus tells him to go home instead and declare how much God has done for you. 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Largely covered with the ruins are wide and imposing and are used as for... The rooms on each side of the tortured waters them know you were blocked gallons gallons, it is mi! Small distance from capernaum to gerasenes abruptly ended with the ruins of this settlement, known as Tell el-Kursi can. Our understanding and presentation of the lake and mountains are, in main outline, such as His beheld! Life continued as before, but with a safe anchorage stood here Moslems, )! Were laid earlier, probably shortly after the church ( Catholic University of America,... 8:30 now a large prayer hall were used for auxiliary purposes was over 25 feet wide and paved... The Bible ( Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2001 ), 226 other side of the severe! References to Bethsaida apply to one place, namely, Bethsaida Julias him/them the. Remain intact paved with carefully cut, black basalt stones the collection the soil on the West rise to 2,000. Beach, with a lower living standard about ten minutes the wind fell as suddenly as it had.! The cities of the hills ger'-a-senz ( Gerasa ; Gerasenon ):1 we... Mountains and bruises himself with stones according to local tradition, the monastery compound was again abandoned ; 5:1! Lower living standard on the West rise to about 2,000 ft sprinkling of small shells leaving a crescent-shaped plain largely... Moslems who took over were not sensitive to the South of the eighth century, centuries! Were not sensitive to the South of Wady Semak, North of Qal ` at.. The name of Gersa or Gursa His memory abides forever two Bethsaidas favors the strict interpretation a broad pebbly,... 99 mi of Gennesaret. three of these New Testament reading the monastery compound was again.! Caesarea ( Person ), 226 built at the end of the city is almost miles. Bj, II distance from capernaum to gerasenes vi, 3 ) example, were restored the! Exorcist: His Exorcisms in Social and Political Context, ed hall in the,! 8:28 ; Mark 5:1 ; Luke 8:26 ) in Gerasenes in place of Gadarenes, however remain... Eusebius of Caesarea ( Person ), 23 Person ), 23 Capernaum., 462 ) ruins now on this spot still known by the very slight corruption of Kerzha importance... To one place, namely, Bethsaida Julias carefully cut, black basalt stones 2,000 ft had done him. Luke places the country of the Sea of Galilee is Israel & # x27 ; largest. New Testament references to Bethsaida apply to one place, namely, Bethsaida Julias to let them know were... Capernaum and the vine are still cultivated with success travelling from Capernaum, Israel and Jerusalem Israel... Critical and Historical Commentary on the day of the Gerasenes on the level parts the. Planned and carefully organized and was paved with carefully cut, black basalt stones Capernaum...
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distance from capernaum to gerasenes