Galilee Day 2

The second day opened with a view from Mount Precipice, the traditional location of Jesus' flight from the angry mob. Although the location of the legend is less than certain, the view is a 360 degree historical snapshot.

From here one can see Nazareth, the place where Jesus grew up, worked, and increased in knowledge and stature. The story of Deborah and Barak can be remembered looking backward in to the Jezreel Valley. the death of Saul and his son took place across the valley. Ahab expanded his kingdom through the valley, as did the more Torah-observant Josiah. Elijah also grew up in this place of Messianic connection, but not a single one of these kings and prophets had been the ultimate Messiah. Through Luke 4, one can imagine these stories coming together in Jesus' mind, the One who was now proclaiming Himself Messiah.

Sepphoris exemplified another picture of Roman influence. through Herod. During his reign this was a capitol of the district of Galilee. upon his death, the Jews tried to regain control thorugh this city, though Rome quickly came in to quell, destroy, and rebuild. More interestingly, some have theorized that Jesus may have spent a significant portion of his life building here. Since the place was close to his hometown and had great demand for the tecton - skilled craftsman in local building materials - it would only be natural. This would have introduced him to the Gentile population very early and one can envisage him building the theater, later in his ministry using the word Hypocrite from the Roman drama.

From the Cliffs of Arbel another 360 degree view is

available. The Sea of Galilee spreads to the East with the coastal cities in sight. Hippus on the far shore is the only "city on a hill" and may have been the visual reference in the Sermon on the Mount. To the West the Horns of Hattin spread across the horizon reminding of the basaltic rock that intermingles with the Eocene limestone. Whatever has changed the landscape, the people, the sounds and smells; one thing remains - the rocks, the topography that Jesus walked.