Page 26 - Holyland Magazine - 2023 Edition

Susita excavations. Photos: Michael Eisenberg

heroism that could have been used by Israel One of the main traditions around the Sea of is located on the east side of the Sea of
(and was within Israel's borders) was Masada Galilee is to identify the place of the miracle of Galilee, in a non-Jewish area. The main
and NOT Gamla. the Swine and Legion to a place called Kursi. entrance into the Roman city is via its
Necropolis (city of the dead or the tombs)
Today, Kursi is a national park with a beautiful and the city is surrounded by steep cliffs
Funny how modern geopolitics affect a Byzantine church, but there is a small problem which is consistent with the account in
nation's collective memory… Mark 5.
Today, you can visit Gamla National Park and with this tradition… Kursi is situated on a
enjoy an amazing hike into the ancient city, plateau near the Sea of Galilee, which means
explore the synagogue that Jesus thought that if the swine had run into the sea in that When visiting Susita, you can analyze the
of, and see the magnitude of this amazingly region, they could not have fallen into the Sea layout of the land by reading the account
powerful place. If you are short on time, you but were running along the plateau… in Mark 5. You will be amazed at how well
can look at the city from the observation the landscape fits what is described in the
deck, which is located right above and across Another problem is, the Bible speaks about the scriptures.
the city. It is easily accessible and the views fact that the demoniac had lived in the tombs
are outstanding. close to the village/city since they could hear Before entering the city, you will pass
him at night. "And when He had come out of through the Necropolis and see the tombs
the boat, immediately there met Him out of the which are located all around the city at a
Susita tombs, a man with an unclean spirit… And very short distance from the residential
We read in the Bible that many of the always, night and day, he was in the mountains area. Therefore, if you have a demoniac
inhabitants of the Decapolis cities had come to and in the tombs, crying out and cutting living in those tombs, the people of the city
hear Jesus, even though they were non-Jews. himself with stones (Mark 5:2-5). When you will hear him loud and clear…
visit Kursi today, you cannot see any remains
The Decapolis was a group of 10 Roman cities of burial caves apart from one cave (which had
(Deca = 10, Polis = city) that were located turned into a chapel). This is our cue to ask—is Both Susita and Gamla are true hidden
along the eastern border of the Roman empire. this the place? And if not, where is it? gems. Due to their lack of old church
Nine of the cities were east of the Jordan River traditions and politics, these two Roman-
and the Sea of Galilee, except for the capital – Let's read and understand from the Bible what era cities are completely off the beaten
Beit She’an – which was to the west. we need to look for. We need cliffs with a steep track. However, that is exactly what
drop into the Sea of Galilee, we need tombs makes them must-see sites: these are the
Susita is situated on a high table-shaped that are close to a dwelling place, and we need real, archaeological, ancient places where
mountain towering over the east side of the a dock from where Jesus got off the boat. Jesus visited, healed, and taught.
Sea of Galilee. It was one of the smallest cities
of the Decapolis in the time of Jesus but it Adding all of the above, I would offer Susita For more information visit our website:
played a very important role… as the place of the miracle of the Swine. It www.tourgolan.com