JESUS FEEDING THE 5,000 NEAR THE SHORE OF LAKE TIBERIUS

NASA 

The yellow dot represents Capernaum.  The yellow lines were straight line distances from Capernaum to mountains on the east or west side of the lake shores opposite Capernaum where it was presumed Jesus set out with his disciples to go to a remote place apart from the village of Capernaum.

USA/CIA map of Israel 1976

According to the Gospel of John after the feeding of the 5,000 the disciples rowed about 3 - 4 miles before Jesus joined them.  By some accounts they may have been heading back to Capernaum.  The blue lines left and right of Capernaum are about 4 miles long.  Jesus was said to have fed the 5,000 on a mountain. 

If the disciples were heading back to Capernaum from the mountain south of Bethsaida, that has a ridge about two kilometers long from Ramot to the south to Zelon Beach and they left the vicinity of Ramot/Kinnar Beach, then they would have reached Capernaum after about four miles of rowing.

Since the feeding of the 5,000 was on a mountain, then a landing at Ginnosaur would have been a further walk to the mountain behind it above Magdal.  The area was also possessing some of the richest soil in the district and likely to be more thickly settled; not a remote place. 

First century historian Josephus described the Plain of Ginnesareth as being 35 stadia long and 20 stadia broad (Wars III), that is a bit more than 4 miles long.  This measurement of the plain between Magdala/Hawaii Beach in the NW corner of the lake below Arbel to Tel Kinneret in the east is off by almost two kilometers too short.  Measurements of shorelines and distances across lakes were by reckoning in those days.  It is possible that John might not have given an exact measurement.  

See labeled satellite photo:

In the Gospel according to Luke it was indicated that Jesus withdrew to Bethsaida and fed the five thousand.  One may consider that the Jordan delta area was Bethsaida as much as a metropolitan area also encompasses its suburbs.  The presence of the walled city and its large houses, merchants, and houses outside the walls dominated the country beyond the city walls.

 
April 2005 -- Jordan River Delta

The walled city described as Bethsaida - Julias was to the left and the mountains on the other side of the lake from Capernaum are in the upper right corner.  Part of the delta plain with its river channels may have been more recently formed as the Hula swamp was drained and winter flooding has deposited new silt in the channels.  Since this Bethsaida plain was on the same side of the lake as Capernaum, it is likely the area of the Bethsaida region described as being on the opposite side of the lake extended from the junction of the road to Qatzrin and extending southwards towards Kursi.

January 2006 - Bread and Fish Byzantine Church Floor

The Church of the Fish and the Loaves near the Heptagon Springs was about two kilometers west of Capernaum and built to commemorate Jesus' miracle.

JOHN 6:

5 Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred shillings' worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, who hath five barley loaves, and two fishes: but what are these among so many? 10 Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the fishes as much as they would. 12 And when they were filled, he saith unto his disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost. 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten. 14 When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world.  

Parable of the Mustard Seed
     A Mustard Field Along Highway 87-North Shore of Galilee
     Mustard Seeds in the Palm of a Hand
     A Branching Mustard Plant Near the Jordan River/Bethsaida
     Mustard Field March 1999
     Mustard Flowers
     Chukar Partridges
Upper Most Seats of the Synagogue
The Fig Tree
     Mt of Olives Fig Tree April 12-13, 2005
     Fig and Pomegranate trees below Siloam in Jerusalem
     Israel Photos II fig tree page
     Sycomore Fig Tree
The Good Shepherd
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
     Goat Herder
Camels
Eye of the Needle
Ritual Cleansing
Shechem
     The Olive Harvest of Samaria
     Mt. Ebal
     Olive Tree
Pearl of Great Price
A First Century Synagogue at Gamala
     View from the Vulture Overlook
     Overview of Gamala
     Roman Artillery Replica
A First Century Boat on Display at Kibbutz Ginosaur
     Modern Galilee Fishing Boats
Kursi
     Caves and/or tombs
     Steep Slope near the Lake
Hippos
Feeding the 5,000
     On the Mountain
     Walking on Water
     Ramot-Zelon area
     Alternate location
Mt. Hermon
The Pool(s) of Bethesda in Jerusalem
     Healing Pools
     Southern Pool
     Crusader Chapel and St. Ann Church
The Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem
     Gihon Spring
     Hezekiah's Tunnel
     Overlook of  Siloam
Tower of Siloam
A Watch Tower in a Vineyard/Olive Grove
     Grape Vines at Beth Horan
     Towers
Mt. Precipice
     South Face
     Summit
     Over the edge
     Measuring Line
     View of Nazareth from near Megiddo
Nazareth
     The Basilica of the Annunciation
Capernaum
Healing a Paralytic in Capernaum
Bethsaida      
First Century Artifacts from Qumran and Masada
     Qumran -- 1st century pottery
     Masada -- 1st century glassware
     Masada -- 1st century pottery
     Masada -- 1st century stoneware
Waterskins and Wineskins
The Fish and the Coin
A Denarius
Casting out a demon
The Road to Jericho
     Old Roman Road
     Wilderness Above Jericho
     Old Jericho
Western Wall
Gethsemane and the Cave of  Gethsemane
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Rolling Stone Tombs - Jerusalem
     Other Rolling Stone Tombs
Tiberias
Solar Power in Israel
Salt of the earth
Chorazin

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