NAZARETH (Nafapé0, Ναζαρέτ, Ναζαράτ, Ναζαράθ, Ναζαρά, mod. Arab. en-Ndsira; on etymology and meaning of the name see Swete on Mk 1°) was situated in a high valley running from S.S.W. to N.N.E. among the most southerly of the limestone hills of the Lebanon range just before it drops down to the Plain of Esdraelon. The base of the valley is about 1200 feet above the level of the Mediter- ranean, while the western hill (which is higher than the hills on the N. and E.), on which the town was built, rises to a height of 1600 feet. The
* In Westcott and Hort’s text Ναζαρηνός occurs in Mk 1% 1047 1487 165, also in Lk 454, where it is probably copied from Mk or a common source. Apart from these instances it occurs only in Lk 2419, where, however, the MSS A, Ὁ, etc., read Ναζωναῖος, It thus seems probable that Ναζαρηνός was the only form used in the original source of the Synoptic Gospels.
NAZARETH
floor of the valley is covered in the season with wild flowers, and the olive, fig, mulberry, lemon, pomegranate, almond, and quince flourish. Want of soil, however, causes many bare spots in the landscape, which is further characterized by the long irregular rows of cactus hedges. The climate is moderate on the whole, though it is hot in the summer and snow is not unknown in the winter. Like many other parts of Palestine, it is subject to severe storms. The old town of N. has entirely disappeared, but, judging Ἂν the rock-tombs that remain, it probably extended higher up the western hill than the modern village. It seems to have been a place of no importance for the national life (cf. Jn 1), although it was only a day’s journey from the Mediterranean at Carmel, bee about the same distance from Capernaum and Tiberias, while it was a three days’ journey from Jerusalem. Roads out from it to Sefurieh, Akka, Kefr Rarmaetibevias, Mt. Tabor, Jaffa, and the Plain of Esdraelon; but no main line of traffic passes through it. The only permanent water sup ly comes from the Virgin’s Spring (‘Ain es - Sitt Mariam), which rises near the Greek church of Gabriel and is conducted by a canal of about 120 steps to its present outlet. Attempts have been made to secure a supply from other sources, but without much success. As the outflow from the Virgin’s Spring in the summer is only about 170 gallons an hour,—an amount that scarcely suffices for the present population of 7500 people, even with the addition of stored rain-water,—the are of Nazareth could never have been very arge. N. is not mentioned in the OT, Josephus, or the Talmud (but cf. Neubauer, Géog. du Talmud, p. 190), and derives its importance entirely from its connexion with the life of Jesus. To ‘a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,’ Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary to announce the birth of Jesus (Lk 1), from Nazareth Joseph went up to be taxed in Bethlehem (Lk 24), and to it Mary and he returned after the birth of Jesus (Lk 2"). Matthew represents Joseph and Mary as going to live at Nazareth after the birth of Jesus, that a prophecy concerning the Messiah might be fulfilled (Mt 2%; see NAZARENE). At the age of twelve Jesus was still living at Nazareth (Lk 2°), and according to Mark He came from Nazareth of Galilee to be baptized in the Jordan (1°). To Nazareth He returned after the Tempta- tion, only, however, to leave it for Capernaum (Mt 413). Finally, it was in the ΕΑΓ of Nazareth that He declared Himself the fulfilment of prophecy, and so enraged the people that they led Him out to the hill above the city and sought to throw Him down®* (Lk 4", cf. Mk 6', Mt 13%), From His close association with Nazareth, Jesus was often spoken of as ‘ the Nazarene’ (see article above).
The important features of Nazareth for the life of Jesus are—
1. It was in Galilee, and hence was not so much under the influence of the temple as of the syna- gogue. It was also free from the extreme aversion to everything foreign so characteristic of Jerusalem, while at the same time the patriotism of the Gali- {wan was strong and often even turbulent.
2. It was secluded in so far as it was not on any main road of international trade (see above).
3. Yet it was an excellent post of observation, from which might be seen some of the most varied forms of the active life of North Palestine. Atten- tion has of late rightly been drawn to the magnifi- cent view from the hills above Nazareth. Jeru- salem pilgrims, Egyptian and Midianite caravans,
* The traditional site to the south of Nazareth has now been
entirely given up in favour of the western hill. (See commen- |
tarics on this passage). VOL. 111.—32
NAZIRITE 497
Roman legions and princes’ retinues, all passed within sight. Many phases of Greek and SES life could be observed from here, both in the town life of such places as Sefurieh and on the main roads of the plains, At the same time national feeling was stirred to its depths by the memories connected with the hill of Carmel, the battlefield of Esdraelon, and the mountains of Gilead.