Facts about Nazareth from https://www.free-bible.com/geography/ancient-israel/nazareth.php
Location and Scenery
– The little town of Nazareth was one of the most beautiful places in all of Galilee.
– It is situated on the most southern of the ranges of lower Galilee, among the hills which are referred to as the south ridges of Lebanon, just before they sink down into the plain of Esdraelon (about 10 miles away). A rocky gorge descends southward to a plain between two craggy hills.
– It was situated on the southeast slope of a hollow pear shaped basin, which descends gradually from the elevated plateau 1500 feet above sea level and opens out through a steep winding way (the stem of the pear) into the plain of Esdraelon, 1000 feet lower.
– It is a secluded village lying in a basin, surrounded by the Nazareth limestone hills, which were said to “rise round it like the edge of a shell to guard it from intrusion.”
– On the hill five hundred feet above the town, a most wonderful panorama opens to view of the beauties and historic scenes of the land.
– To the north one could see the plateaus of Zebulun and Naphtali, and the mountains of Lebanon with snow-covered Hermon towering above them all
– To the West one could see the coast of Tyre and the blue waters of the Mediterranean.
– From a hilltop in Nazareth one could see Mt. Carmel, the historic scene of the struggle of Elijah with the prophets of Baal.
– To the south one could see Megiddo and the whole plain of Esdraelon which was the scene of many of the most memorable battles of Israel, to Tabor and the hills of Gilboa where Saul and Jonathan lost their lives. Mt. Ebal and the land of Shechem in the background with the uplands of Gilead and Samaria.
– To the east, across the sea of Galilee and the Jordan Valley, Gilead and Jaulan with Tabor, the Mountain of Bashan
– What thoughts Jesus must have had sitting upon these hilltops.
– At the foot of the hill passed the Roman road, “the Way of the Sea,” which connected the ancient city of Damascus with the Mediterranean sea-ports.
– To the south there was a road that went all the way to Egypt.
– A mile and a half away was the caravan route to Jerusalem
– The town itself was built of the white limestone from the quarries of the calcerous mountains which encircle the basin.
– Sepphoris, the capital of Herod Antipas and strongest military center in Galilee, was only five miles to the northwest across the rolling hills.
– Tiberias, Capernaum, Bethsaida and other towns were only a few miles away on the margin of the Sea of Galilee; and even Jerusalem itself was not a great distance from Jesus’ home in Nazareth.
– “You cannot see from Nazareth the surrounding country, for Nazareth lies in a basin; but the moment you climb to the edge of this basin . . . what a view you have. Esdraelon lies before you, with its twenty battlefields-the scenes of Barak’s and of Gideon’s victories, of Saul’s and Josiah’s defeats, of the struggles for freedom in the glorious days of the Maccabees. There is Naboth’s vineyard and the place of Jehu’s revenge upon Jezebel; there Shunem and the house of Elisha; there Carmel and the place of Elijah’s sacrifice. To the E the valley of Jordan, with the long range of Gilead; to the W the radiance of the Great Sea. . . . You can see thirty miles in three directions” (Smith, Hist. Geog., p. 432).
The Bible and Nazareth
– Nazareth is not mentioned in the OT or by Josephus, although the presence of a spring and the convenience of the site make it probable that the place was occupied in old times.
– To be called a “Nazarene” was having an evil reputation (Matthew said this was in accord with the prophecy of Isaiah 53) and pictures the Messiah as a “root springing up out of the dry ground.”
– One of the most well known names for the Messiah among the Jews was Tsamech or Branch, based on Isaiah’s prophecy (Isa 11:1). The word Netzer is the exact equivalent. The title Nazarene not only stood for the reproach which Jesus bore, but was a fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. He was a Branch (Netzer) sprung out of David’s roots.
– it is within the limits of the province of Galilee (Luke 4:29)
– Nazareth was the home of Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:39)
– It was where the angel announced to Mary the birth of the Messiah (1:26-28).
.- It was where Joseph brought Mary and Jesus after the sojourn in Egypt (Matt 2:19-23).
– It was where Jesus grew up to manhood for about 30 years (Luke 4:16)
– He was therefore called Jesus of Nazareth.
– His disciples were known as Nazarenes.
– In Nazareth Jesus first taught in the synagogue (Matt 13:54; Luke 4:16)
– The evil reputation attached to Nazareth (John 1:46) has generally been attributed to the Galileans’ lack of culture and rude dialect. Nathanael, who asked, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” was himself a Galilean. He may have said that because Nazareth was such a common term of contempt among the more “righteous” Jews in Judea. (See Galilee)
– In Nazareth, Jesus preached His first recorded sermon (Luke 4:16 ff).
– Once Jesus finished preaching about the Kingdom of God and the Nazarenes became violent. “He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt 13:58) and He made His home in Capernaum.
– It is near Cana, where Jesus turned the water into wine (Mark 1:9)
