ISRAEL PHOTOS IV -- Pilgrimage |
The Precipice Southwest of Nazareth
The view from seven kilometers outside of Nazareth by road (4/2008). The area in the yellow block was at least from Crusader times onward considered the precipice where the mob in Nazareth tried to lead Jesus to his death. Some pilgrims indicated the high cliffs on the mountain to the right might have been the location of the event described in the Gospel According to Luke. The higher peak to the right is Jebel el Qafseh and has also been described as a theoretical place for the attempted execution of Jesus. The hill to the left is by the Latin tradition "the Fright." There was a different Greek traditional observance of the fright. There were two different annunciation theories. Many of the churches marking Holy Sites in Israel may have been guesses. There are two churches marking the birth site of St. Anne, one in Jerusalem, another in Sephoris more than two days walking distance from Jerusalem.
|
1. A cistern with the fig growing out of
it to the right of numeral, partially filled in, seven feet deep. 2. A bell cistern with narrow dark opening, twenty-three feet deep. 3. Manmade niche in the limestone wall used for worship purposes. 4. Platform with stone retaining walls below and steps to the right used by worshipers who approached the site. The cliff was probably above forty feet high. Was unable to measure it as I was run off the property.
|
This location (same as shown above) was reported since Medieval times. It is the precipice near a notch between the two mountains southwest of town as one goes up towards Nazareth. Its distance from Nazareth has been described as between one and two miles from town. One early pilgrim reported that Jesus was supposed to have lept from one mountain to the other, the distance between the two being a bowshot. Franciscan archaeologist Bagatti reported Byzantine shards mixed in the fill used to build the platform. Use of this site to commemorate Luke's account may date back to the Byzantine era. There are records of an old Nubian Christian monastery below the cliff. The recent construction project for a highway tunnel under Jebel el Qafseh into Nazareth has destroyed much of the level land below the precipice. Some objected to the fact that this precipice seemed far from town. One might remember that John the Baptist was imprisoned in one of Herod's fortresses, Paul was transported by horse to Caesarea then to Rome to stand trial. Josephus indicated rebels who were captured when the Jewish resistance failed (70 A.D. War of the Jews) captives were transported as far away as Corinth to serve as slaves digging a canal. A cliff this close to Nazareth cannot be ruled out, nor should one ignore the cliffs behind the city on the NW hill.
Early Travels in Palestine, Thomas Wright, London, 1848
From the writings of Henry Maundrell (A.D. 1697):
"...After dinner we made another small excursion, in order to see that which they call the Mountain of the Precipitation; that is, the brow of the hill from which the Nazarites would have thrown down our blessed Saviour, being incensed at his sermon preached to them. This precipice is at least half a league (1.5 miles) distant from Nazareth southward. In going to it, you cross first over the valley in which Nazareth stands, and then, going down two or three furlongs in a narrow cleft between the rocks, you there clamber up a short but difficult way on the right hand, at the top of which you find a great stone standing on the brink of the precipice, which is said to be the very place where our Lord was destined to be thrown down by his enraged neighbors, had he not made a miraculous escape out of their hands. There are in the stone several little holes, resembling the prints of fingers thrust into it. These, if the friars say truth, are the impresses of Christ’s fingers, made in the hard stone, while he resisted the violence that was offered to him. At this place are seen two or three cisterns for saving water, and a few ruins, which are all that now remains of a religious building..."
There were numerous reports of guides showing a stone about four feet high with "finger prints" in it. Although many guides were false, it is true there were high precipices in areas claimed by Nazareth townspeople to this day.
Nazareth Synagogue
Churches of the Annunciation
Latin Tradition -- Mount of Precipitation
Nazareth Aerial View
Museum of the Basilica
Hot Springs at Tiberias
Stone Water Jars at Capernaum
Capernaum
Tabgha
Bethsaida
House of Anchors Museum
A 1909 Galilee Fishing Description
The Giant Mustard Plant
Kursi and the Gadarene
Demoniac
Jar of Ointment
