Exterior Wall, Tiberias
After the second rejection at Nazareth Jesus went forth into Galilee and sent forth the twelve.—Matthew 9:35–38; 10:1–11; Mark 6:6–13; Luke 9:1–6. Here He heard of the death of John the Baptist; and at this time Herod gave his opinion of Jesus.—Matthew 14:1–12; Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9. In going from Nazareth to Capernaum he would doubtless pass again in sight of Tiberias. In the above view we have the exterior of the citadel. Tiberias was quite a modern town when our Lord frequented this region. The walls were strengthened by ten round towers on the west, five on the north and eight on the south. There were also towers along the shore to protect the city against attack from the water. The spacious castle is now entirely in ruins. Within the walls dwell about 2,000 inhabitants. To the west, on the hillside behind the town, are the tombs of many rabbis, and near to this sleep many modern Israelites who deemed it almost as great a blessing to have their dust lie by the side of these holy men as in the Valley of Jehosaphat itself. “The shores of Tiberias form one of the gardens of the world.” The plain near it was called “the unparalleled garden of God.” The rabbis testify that the shores of the lake were covered with cities, villages and market places. Renan speaks of it as a “country very green and full of shade and pleasantness; the true country of the Canticle of Canticles and of the psalms of the well-beloved.”
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