The City Of Nazareth, Israel

by David Padfield

 

Our Lord grew up in the insignificant village of Nazareth, located in the Galilean hills. After our Saviour's birth, Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt, and remained there until "those who sought the young Child's life" were dead (Matt. 2:20).

When Joseph "heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee" (Matt. 2:22). Matthew tells us that Jesus "came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, 'He shall be called a Nazarene'" (Matt. 2:23).

Today, Nazareth is a town of 80,000 people, composed of both "Christians" and Arabs. The skyline of the city is dominated by the Franciscan Basilica of the Annunciation.