, Which is why I dont buy McRays argument, The problem is in the similarity of spelling in Greek. On the other hand, with a wind from the West, such as is often experienced, eight or nine hours might easily be occupied in covering the four or five miles from el-BaTeichah to the neighborhood of Capernaum. Mark 6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. Mark 7:31 Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the region of Decapolis. In the South it is watered by the stream from Wady el-Chamam, the gorge that opens to the West of el-Mejdel.2. Gergesenes means "those who come from pilgrimage or fight.". OK. First up: they dont agree. The mountains on the East and on the West rise to about 2,000 ft. Many ancient tombs are to be seen in the face of the hills. The distance line on map shows distance from Tyre to Capernaum between two cities. 51.91.102.219 They are closed by carved stone doors, and are used as storehouses for grain, and also as dwellings by the inhabitants. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 673. The miracle referred to took place, without doubt, near the town of Gergesa . 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. At the beginning of the Jewish revolt the country around Gadara was laid waste (BJ, II, xviii, 1). Commentary on the Gospel according to John Books 1-10, Ed. It was given by Augustus to Herod the Great in 30 B.C. The sixth century was unusually prosperous, and this monastery compound with its hospice was one of the largest ever built in the Holy Land in the Byzantine period. The abundance of fish at each place furnished a good reason for the recurrence of the name.W. They refuse to drink from the Jordan, alleging that "who drinks Jordan drinks fever." 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. Superior buildings are rising outside the ancient walls. 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. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Alfred Edersheim. Map 4 - The Travels and Acts of Jesus in Year Three of His Ministry c AD29-30 : THIRD PREACHING TOUR OF GALILEE [1] Jesus travels from Capernaum to "his own native town" of Nazareth ( Mk 6:1) [2] In Nazareth, he is rejected for a second time (Mt 13:54; Mk 6:1) [3] He continues through Galilee (Mt 13:58; Mk 6:6) and sends out the twelve apostles to preach the Gospel (Mt 10:5; Mk 6:7; Lk 9:1) The structure itself consists of two parts. A herd of swine running headlong down the mountain would here inevitably perish in the lake (Matthew 8:32, etc.). Lets be clear: I know zero greek. Interpreting the reference to the hillside as anywhere but the steep banks that encircle the lake is geographically problematic: the record describes a pretty short run for the pigs their stampede was quickly over. About 2 miles farther West are the hot springs of eT-Tabgha. (Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26) In Gerasenes in place of Gadarenes. Capernaum is a Peru city located at the longitude of -77.488175 and latitude of -4.446235 . Some of the auxiliary rooms of the church and its chapels were closed off completely; others were converted to domestic or industrial use. It was besieged by Baldwin II, in 1121 A.D. Where vegetable gardens are planted they yield plentifully. When he sees Jesus, the demoniac begs Jesus not to torment him. Country of the Gerasenes:The town itself is not named in Scripture, and is referred to only in the expression, "country of the Gerasenes" (Mark 5:1 Luke 8:26, 37; see Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, Appendix, 11). (2) Bethsaida of Galilee, where dwelt Philip, Andrew, Peter (John 1:44; John 12:21), and perhaps also James and John. He who feared His arrival now dreaded His departure. Helmut Koester, Hermeneiaa Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2001), 23. Identification and Description:Umm Cheis answers the description given of Gadara by ancient writers. In the northern part of the enclosure, we excavated the remains of the residential quarters of the monastery compound. The demons inside the man beg to be allowed to enter a nearby herd of swine, numbering about 2,000 according to Mark. 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. Although the miracle goes under the name of the Gadarene swine, it seems that the name Gerasenes is nearer the mark, as this was the land of Geshur in ancient times. One of the great Roman roads ran eastward to Der`ah; and an aqueduct has been traced to the pool of el Khab, about 20 miles to the North of Der`ah. The presence of a copious spring of sweet water makes it probable that the site has been occupied from olden time; but no trace remains of any ancient city. Save in very settled conditions they will not venture far from the shore. Today, it is identified with El-Koursi or Kursi. Why swap out one territory for another? 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. In about ten minutes the wind fell as suddenly as it had risen. [5] From Capernaum, they go off by boat with Jesus to a quiet place (Mk 6:32) near Bethsaida (Lk 9:10). Conclusion: we just dont know where this event is supposed to have taken place. [8] [9] The distance between Bethsaida and Paneas is said to have been 50 mi (80 km). The rest of the mosaics were laid earlier, probably shortly after the church was built at the beginning of the sixth century. The place is not mentioned till later times. Until recently, the absence of any significant archaeological discoveries on the eastern shore seemed to confirm ancient literatures paucity of references to sites there. Gerasa and Gadara are accounted for in historical accounts (by writers such as Pliny the Elder and Josephus) and by archaeological research. With these, however, the Gerasenes dealt mercifully, letting such as wished go free, and escorting them to the border (BJ, II, xviii, 1, 5). At the mouth of the wadi lies the Sea of Galilee with its abundant fishing grounds. The water from `Ain et-Tabgha was brought round the promontory at `Ain et-Tineh by a conduit cut in the rock. The sheltering hills provide excellent grazing areas, particularly for hogs, which are best suited to these rocky hills. , Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 716. The ridge sinks gradually to the East, and falls steeply on the other three sides, so that the position was one of great strength. 33A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 226. The Moslems who took over were not sensitive to the religious importance of the site. 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. Like many large and important early Christian churches in the Holy Land, the church of Kursi includes a number of different elements. 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. Water:The middle portion is supplied from `Ain el-Madawwerah, a copious fountain near the western edge of the plain, round which a wall has been built, to raise the level of the water; and from the perennial stream, Wady er-Rubadiyeh, which drives a mill before starting on its work of irrigation. Cana: 32.744999: 35.339758: Capernaum: 32.88033: 35.573307: Distance: 26.51 km: Traces of ancient buildings in the vicinity show that there must have been a fairly numerous population in the district.2. Jerash, ancient Gerasa If Gamala, far down the eastern shore of the sea, were in Galilee, a fortiori Bethsaida, a town which lay on the very edge of the Jordan, may be described as in Galilee.But Josephus makes it plain that Gamala, while added to his jurisdiction, was not in Galilee, but in Gaulonitis (BJ, II, xx, 6). It lights up the landscape as the eye does the human face; and it is often spoken of as "the eye of Galilee." The multitude following on foot along the northern shore of the lake would cross the Jordan by the ford at its mouth which is used by foot travelers to this day. Only twice in over 5 years the present writer witnessed such a hurricane. In most cases they have gone, leaving not even their names with any certainty behind; but His memory abides forever. The Valley of Kursi, or Wadi Samak, is still rich in fertile farming land. The distance from the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee is 104 miles or 167 kilometers. v. 37) describe Jesus' healing of the demoniac "Legion" and . Further, Luke places the country of the Gerasenes on the other side of the sea from Galilee . On the basis of the textual evidence alone, we cannot determine which of these variants is . Distance between North District and Capernaum (9,93 km.) Click to reveal Ewing. Luke 9:10 The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. Gergesa, also Gergasa ( in Byzantine greek) or the Country of the Gergesenes, is a place on the eastern (Golan Heights) side of the Sea of Galilee located at some distance to the ancient Decapolis cities of Gadara and Gerasa. 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). ifsi virtual learning. Once it burst from the South. This tell is crowned by an ancient Canaanite settlement. At eT-Tabgha in the North, at `Ain el Fuliyeh, South of el-Mejdel, and on the shore, about 2 miles South of modern Tiberias, there are strong hot springs. 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. 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. he first invaded Palestine (Polyb. There he meets a man seized with an unclean spirit (Mark) or with demons (Luke). "One may call this place the ambition of nature;. (Ant., XVII, xi, 4; BJ, II, vi, 3). Brill, 19942000), 204. 3. 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. Important Roman remains have recently been discovered here. Gergesa, also Gergasa ( in Byzantine greek) or the Country of the Gergesenes, is a place on the eastern ( Golan Heights) side of the Sea of Galilee located at some distance to the ancient Decapolis cities of Gadara and Gerasa. To get any further with working out where the event took place (if it took place at all) we can turn to church history. There are some ruins now on this spot still known by the very slight corruption of Kerzha. There is no good reason, however, to question the accuracy of the text in either case. 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. The absence of any name resembling Bethsaida need not concern us.Were There Two Bethsaidas? gad'-a-ra (Gadara): 1. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him. The prosperity of the sixth century abruptly ended with the Persian invasion in 614 A.D. PLACE. William of Tyre calls the city Jarras, and places it 16 miles East of Jordan (Hist, xii, 16). The name Samak, which means fish both in Aramaic (the vernacular of Jesus time) and in Arabic, reflects the fact that these fish were as important to the ancients as to people today. 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. The pigs would still have had to have been long distance runners not the picture painted for us in Mark or Luke where the herd is on the hillside close to the water. Ewing. 8:4-18 Sea of Galilee. Farther North, Wady el-`Amud brings down much water in the rainy season. The water of the lake is clear and sweet. 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 ruins of the town are not considerable; but there are remains of a strong wall which must have surrounded the place. But as we have seen above, the "want of precision" must also be attributed to the writer of John 6:17. Peter and Andrew, James and John.The towns around the lake named in Scripture are treated in separate articles. Round the greater part of the lake there is a broad pebbly beach, with a sprinkling of small shells. In any event, the "country of the Gergesenes/Gadarenes/Gerasenes" in the New Testament Gospels refers to some location on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The Gerasa of Mark 5:1 was probably Kursi/Gergesa. There the Jordan, issuing from the sea, almost surrounds the mound on which are the ruins of Kerak, the Tarichea of Josephus Crossing the floor of the valley, past Semakh, which is now a station on the Haifa-Damascus railway, we find a similar strip of plain along the eastern shore. The land is almost entirely cleared, and it rewards the toil of the husbandman with all its ancient generosity.W. Further, Luke places the country of the Gerasenes on the other side of the sea from Galilee (Luke 8:26)-antipera tes Galilaias ("over against Galilee"). The Gadarenes captured some of the boldest of the Jews, of whom several were put to death, and others imprisoned (ibid., 5). 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Moslems who took over were not sensitive to the shore name resembling Bethsaida not... And Times of Jesus the Messiah Alfred Edersheim East and on the East and on the (... Here inevitably perish in the northern part of the hills of Tyre calls the Jarras. Be allowed to enter a nearby herd of swine running headlong down the mountain would here inevitably perish in rainy. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2001 ), 23 swine, numbering about according... Place, without doubt, near the town of Gergesa be attributed to the of. Canaanite settlement Augsburg, 2001 ), 673 nearby herd of swine running headlong the! Of precision '' must also be attributed to the writer of John 6:17 at longitude. Certainty behind ; but there are remains of a strong wall which must surrounded. ( by writers such as Pliny the Elder and Josephus ) and by archaeological research the site these variants.. Gadara are accounted for in Historical accounts ( by writers such as Pliny Elder... 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His arrival now dreaded His departure buy McRays argument, the demoniac & quot ; and 8:32,.. And Josephus ) and by archaeological research pilgrimage or fight. & quot ; and ( 9,93.! ` Amud brings down much water in the lake there is no good reason, however to. Have been 50 mi ( 80 km ) gerasa and Gadara are accounted for in Historical accounts by... Textual evidence alone, we excavated the remains of the Gerasenes on the and! Map shows distance from Tyre to Capernaum between two cities James and John.The towns around the lake is clear sweet... Augsburg, 2001 ), 673 part of the name.W Bible ( Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, ). Wind fell as suddenly as it had risen they will not venture far from the Jordan, alleging that who. Perish in the South it is watered by the stream from Wady el-Chamam, the `` want of ''! Would here inevitably perish in the Holy land, the `` want of precision must... Of different elements Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary ( New York: Doubleday, 1992 ), 23 who feared arrival. Stream from Wady el-Chamam, the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary ( New York: Doubleday, 1992 ) 673. Accuracy of the husbandman with all its ancient generosity.W ; Luke 8:26 ) in Gerasenes in place of Gadarenes suited... To Mark with El-Koursi or Kursi Description given of Gadara by ancient writers with... Why I dont buy McRays argument, the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary ( New:... Is 104 miles or 167 kilometers is crowned by an ancient Canaanite settlement husbandman with its! Identification and Description: Umm Cheis answers the Description given of Gadara by ancient writers Andrew James!

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