Hike from Arbel to Magdala

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Hike from Arbel to Magdala

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues…” (Matthew 4:23) – Surely one of the synagogues where Jesus preached was the Synagogue of Arbel, where we start the hike. Arbel, a Jewish town between Nazareth and Capernaum, is mentioned already in the Old Testament¹, but was better known in the New Testament Era for its strict attachment to the Jewish Tradition² and its rebellious character³ due to its belief in the redemption⁴. This synagogue shows us the development of the Jewish faith, from Jesus’ time and until the early Arab period^5-6. From here we start our hike towards Magdala. A steep path takes us along some ancient “Box Tombs”⁷, dedicated by some Jews to Seth son of Adam and Dina, daughter of Jacob. The path ends in Wadi Hammam, the Valley of the Doves. Here we have to fight our way through the bushes and stones, knowing that Jesus had to do the same in order to avoid the Roman Soldiers⁸ and Tax Collectors⁹. After a short break by the modern Bedouin Village Wadi Hammam we continue through the Flourishing orchards of the Ginossar Valley known for their fruits already in Jesus’ time^10-11 and on to the recent excavations of Ancient Magdala¹², where we still can see the very Synagogue where Jesus preached, the Fish Market, some Jewish Purification Baths and much more…

Length of Hike: Approx. 7 Km. Due to the steep descent from Arbel and the dense vegetation of Wadi Hammam / Nachal Arbel hikers should be in reasonable shape/physical condition.

Hike from Arbel to Magdala

Relevant Scriptural References:

Arbel in the Old Testament: Hosea 10:14

Rabbi Nithai from Arbel and his sayings: Mishna: Avot 1:6-7 ; Hagiga 16:1-2

The Story of Arbel’s rebellion against King Herod the Great: Flavius Josephus, The Jewish Wars, 1:305, 310

Jerusalemite Talmud, Berachot, Chapter 1 Halacha 1: “Rabbi Hiyya Bar Abba and Rabbi Shimon Ben Halafta where walking in the Valley of Arbel at the Break of Morning before the light of day. They watched the dawn as the light began to shine. Rabbi Hiya, the great one in Wisdom, said to Rabbi Halafta: “Rabbi, so too unfolds the Redemption of Israel – in the beginning little by little. And the more it progresses, it increasesand grows!” As is written: <Micha 7:8> “Though I sit in Darkness, the Lord will be my Light”

The Floor of the Synagogue lower than the Threshold: Psalm 130:1 “Out of the Depth I have called Thee, oh Lord!”

Tosefta, Megilla, 3:22 : “You open the Openings of Synagogues only at the Eastern Side, because the Hechal, the holy part of the Temple, was facing the East, as is said: <Numbers 3:38> “And they were to camp to the East of the Tabernacle, toward the Sunrise, in front of the Tent of Meeting”

Some reading material about Tombs you will find in the description of the Umm Daradj Hike.

Jesus healing the Servant of the Roman Centurion: Matthew 8:5-13

Jesus with Tax Collectors: Mark 2:13-17 ; Matthew 9:10-11 ; Mark 2:15 ; Zacchaeus Story: Luke 19:1-10.

Talmudic sources about the Ginosar Valley: Midrash, Bereshit Raba 98:22 : “Said Rabbi Brechiya: The whole shore of the Sea of Tiberias is called Kinnereth. And why is he calling it Ginosar? Most Rabbis say Ganei Sarim <Gardens of the Lords>…” ; Babylonian Talmud, Megilla, 6a, and Jerusalemite Talmud, Megilla 81:1 : “Kinnereth is Ginosar. So why was it named Kinnereth <=Violin> ? Because its fruits are as sweet as the sound of the Violin” ; When talking about the first fruits that have to be brought to the Temple in Jerusalem on the Pentecost, the Babylonian Talmud, Pesachim 8b says: “Why don’t you bring the Fruits of Ginosr to Jerusalem? In order that the Pilgrims won’t say: We could be satisfied from only eating the fruit from Ginosar in Jerusalem…”

Flavius Josephus, The Jewish Wars, Book III, 10:8 : “And along the Valley of Ginosar there is a Land that is also called by that name, and it is wonderful in its Character and in its Beauty. And the Earth of this Land is fruitful, and that is the reason why none of the earth’s Plants will be missing there, and its Inhabitants have planted there all kinds of Orchards, because the good weather is convenient for the different plants…”

Hike from Arbel to Magdala

I do not elaborate on the reading material and explanations for Magdala, as we had some special guide studies for that site, the explanations vary in the subjects and the guides have already the relevant sources.

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Hike from Arbel to Magdala

Greg Reilly

Maranatha Tours