Bethsaida
The area is located on the delta of the upper Jordan river, and was a fertile area with many ancient villages. It was a fishermen town, and the site of Jesus' two miracles.
Mark 8:22: "And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him..."
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Background:
The area of Bethsaida was referred in the new testament in conjunction with two of Jesus miracles: healing the blind man and the first feeding of the Multitude. It is also known as the birthplace of some of the Apostles (Andrew, Peter, Philip). The city was renamed to Julias by Herod Philip - son of Herod the Great - who was also buried there.
Location:
The area of BethSaida is located at the delta of the upper Jordan river, when it enters to the sea of Galilee. It is east located 4KM northeast to Capernaum. This area has many ancient sites due to its strategic place: a crossing of the ancient trade route, a flow of water, the fish and game that can be found around the site, and the fertile soil in the area.
There are many scattered ruined villages at the area, and it was not clear which one of them is the village that Jesus has visited and performed miracles. According to recent excavations, Khirbet et-Tel ("the Tell") is such candidate for that village.
Photos :
A view of the plains of Bethsaida from the east, on the Golan heights. The Jordan river flows in the rightmost corner of the sea of Galilee.
Click on the photos to view in higher resolution...
A view from the east towards the plains of Bethsaida, at dusk.
More photos of the ruined sites - will be added in future....
New Testament References:
(a) Mark 8:22-26
This text describes the miracle of the healing of the blind man in BethSaida:
"And he cometh to
Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when
he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw
ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he
put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored,
and saw every man clearly. And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither
go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town".
(b) Mark 6:44-45
This text talks about the miracle of feeding the multitude, afterwards Jesus left for the area of BethSaida.
"...And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people".
(c) Luke 9:16
This text also relates to BethSaida and the miracle of feeding the multitude:
"And the apostles, when
they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and
went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called
Bethsaida. And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received
them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need
of healing. And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and
said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and
country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert
place. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no
more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all
this people. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his
disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and
made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and
looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to
set before the multitude".
Josephus Flavius:
Josephus Flavius, the Roman historian and ex-Jewish commander, writes about BethSaida. According to the following text, Bethsaida was given to Herod Phillip, one of the sons of Herod the great. He renamed the city to Julius, in honor of Caesar's daughter, so that implies that the city was important. He was also buried there.
(a) Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, 2: 1
"He also advanced the village Bethsaids, situate at the lake of Gennesareth, unto the dignity of a city, both by the number of inhabitants it contained, and its other grandeur, and called it by the name of Julias, the same name with Caesar's daughter".
(b) Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, 4: 6
"He died at Julias; and when he was carried to that monument which he had already erected for himself beforehand, he was buried with great pomp".
Etymology (behind the name):
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