Map of the holy land of the time of jesus christ. Bible cards. II Samuel: The Secrets of Jerusalem

Dan (Lais)  Jeroboam set up a golden calf for the Northern Kingdom for worship (1 Kings 12: 26–33). Dan was the northern aisle of ancient Israel.

Mount Carmel  Elijah tested the prophets of Baal and opened the heavens for rain (1 Kings 18: 17–46).

Megiddo  The place of many battles (Judges 4: 13–16; 5:19; 4 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35: 20–23). Solomon raised the laborers to the construction of Megiddo (1 Kings 9:15). The king of Judea, Josiah, was mortally wounded in the battle against the Egyptian pharaoh Necho (2 Kings 23: 29-30). At the Lord's Second Coming, the last and great battle will take place in the Jezreel Valley as part of the battle of Armageddon (Joel 3:14; Rev. 16:16; 19: 11–21). Title Armageddon  Is a Greek transliteration from Hebrew Har Megidon   which means Mount Megiddo.

Jezreel  The name of the city in the largest and most fertile valley of Israel, bearing the same name. The kings of the Northern Kingdom built a palace here (2 Kings 2: 8–9; 3 Kings 21: 1–2). The wicked Queen Jezebel lived and died here (1 Kings 21; 4 Kings 9:30).

Bef san  Israel met the Canaanites here (Nav. 17: 12–16). Saul’s body was hung on the walls of the fortress (1 Sam. 31: 10–13).

Dofan  Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37:17, 28; 45: 4). Elisha had a vision of a mountain full of horses and chariots (2 Kings 6: 12-17).

Samaria  The capital of the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 16: 24–29). King Ahab built the temple of Baal (1 Kings 16: 32–33). Elijah and Elisha served here (1 Kings 18: 2; 4 Kings 6: 19–20). In 721 BC, the Assyrians conquered the city, thus completing the captivity of ten tribes (2 Kings 18: 9–10).

Shechem  Abraham built an altar (Genesis 12: 6–7). Jacob lived nearby. Simeon and Levi killed all the men of the city (Gen. 34:25). The call of Joshua “choose now” to serve God was made in Shechem (Joshua 24:15). Here Jeroboam established the first capital of the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 12).

Mount Gebal and Mount Garizim  Joshua divided Israel from these two mountains - the blessings of the law were pronounced from Mount Garizim, while the curses were pronounced from Mount Gebal (Nav. 8:33). Later, the Samaritans built a temple on Mount Garizim (2 Kings 17: 32–33).

Penuel Here, Jacob fought all night with the messenger of the Lord (Genesis 32: 24–32). Gideon destroyed the tower of Midian (Judges 8: 5, 8–9).

Joppa  Jonah sailed from here to Tarshish, trying to escape the mission to Nineveh (Jonah 1: 1-3).

By force  In the time of the Judges, there was the capital of Israel and the tabernacle (1 Sam. 4: 3-4).

Bethel (Lose)  Here Abraham separated from Lot (Genesis 13: 1–11) and he had a vision (Genesis 13;). Jacob had a vision of a staircase leading to heaven (Genesis 28: 10–22). There was a tabernacle here for some time (Judges 20: 26–28). Jeroboam set up a golden calf for the Northern Kingdom for worship (1 Kings 12: 26–33).

Gavaon  The inhabitants of this city tricked into a contract with Joshua (Joshua 9). The sun stopped while Joshua won the battle (Nav. 10: 2–13). There was also a place where the tabernacle was temporarily located (1 Chronicles 16:39).

Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, Gath (five cities of the Philistines)  Of these cities, the Philistines often started a war against Israel.

Bethlehem  Rachel was buried nearby (Gen. 35:19). Ruth and Boaz lived here (Ruth 1: 1–2; 2: 1, 4). This city was called the city of David (Luke 2: 4).

Hebron  Abraham (Genesis 13:18), Isaac, James (Genesis 35:27), David (2 Sam. 2: 1–4), and Absalom (2 Sam. 15:10) lived here. This was the first capital of Judea during the reign of King David (2 Kings 2:11). It is believed that Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah were buried in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23: 17–20; 49:31, 33).

En Gaddy  David hid here from Saul and spared his life (1 Sam. 23: 29–24: 22).

Gerard  Abraham and Isaac lived here for some time (Genesis 20–22; 26).

Bathsheba  Abraham dug a well here and swore with Abimelech (Gen. 21:31). Here Isaac saw the Lord (Genesis 26:17, 23-24), and Jacob lived (Genesis 35:10; 46: 1).

Sodom and Gomorrah  Lot chose to live in Sodom (Genesis 13: 11–12; 14:12). God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of wickedness (Genesis 19: 24–26). Jesus later used these cities as a symbol of wickedness (Matt. 10:15).

Mount Ararat  Traditionally, it is considered the place where Noah's Ark stopped (Gen. 8: 4). The exact location is unknown.

Ur  The first seat of Abraham near the mouth of the Euphrates, where he nearly became a victim during a human sacrifice, saw the angel of Jehovah and received the Urim and Thummim (Gen. 11: 28–12: 1;;). (Note the other possible location of Ur in northern Mesopotamia.)

Babylon, Wawel (Sennaar) This land was first inhabited by Hush, the son of Ham, and Nimrod. The area of \u200b\u200borigin of the Jaredites in the time of the Tower of Babel on the plains of Sennaar. Later - the capital of the region of Babylonia and the residence of the Babylonian kings, including Nebuchadnezzar, who brought many Jews captive to this city after the destruction of Jerusalem (587 BC). The Jews were held captive in Babylon 70 years before the time of King Cyrus, who allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. The prophet Daniel also lived here under Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Daria Ⅰ (Genesis 10:10; 11: 1–9; 4 Kings 24–25; Jer. 27: 1–29: 10; Ezek. 1: 1; Dan. 1-12;;).

Shushan (Susa)  The capital of the Persian Empire during the reign of Darius Ⅰ (Darius the Great), Xerxes and Artaxerxes. The place where Queen Esther lived, whose courage and faith saved the Jews. Daniel and later Nehemiah served here (Nehem. 1: 1; 2: 1; Est. 1: 1; Dan. 8: 2).

Deira Field  Here Sedrach, Mesh, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace when they refused to worship the idol made by Nebuchadnezzar; The Son of God saved them and they came out of the fire without harm (Dan. 3).

Assyria  Asur (Ashur) was the first Assyrian capital, followed by Nineveh. The Assyrian rulers Salmanasar Ⅴ and Sargon Ⅱ conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and captured ten tribes in 721 BC (2 Kings 14–15; 17–19). Assyria was a threat to the Jews until 612 BC, when Assyria was conquered by Babylon.

Nineveh  The capital of Assyria. Assyria attacked the land of Judea during the reign of Hezekiah and the ministry of the prophet Isaiah. Jerusalem, the capital of Judea, was miraculously saved when an angel defeated 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (2 Kings 19: 32–37). The Lord told the prophet Jonah to call this city to repentance (Jonah 1: 2; 3: 1–4).

Harran  Abraham stopped here for a while before going to Canaan. Abraham's father and brother stayed here. Rebekah (Isaac’s wife), as well as Rachel, Leah, Valla, and Zelph (Jacob’s wife) were from these places (Gen. 11: 31–32; 24:10; 29: 4–6;).

Carchemis  Pharaoh Necho was defeated here by Nebuchadnezzar, which led to the end of the rule of Egypt in Canaan (2 Chronicles 35: 20–36: 6).

Sidon  This city was found by Sidon, the grandson of Ham, and was the northernmost city of Canaan (Genesis 10: 15–20). It was Jezebel's hometown, which introduced Baal worship among Israel (1 Kings 16: 30–33).

Shooting range  It was an important trading and port city in Syria. Hiram of Tire sent cedar, gold and workers to help Solomon build the temple (1 Kings 5: 1–10, 18; 9:11).

Damascus Abraham saved Lot near here. It was the main city of Syria. During the reign of King David, the Israelites conquered the city. Elijah anointed Hazael to be king over Damascus (Genesis 14: 14–15; 2 Sam. 8: 5–6; 3 Sam. 19:15).

Canaan  This land was given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants in eternal possession (Genesis 17: 8; 28).

Mount Sinai (Horeb)  The Lord spoke to Moses from a burning bush (Exodus 3: 1–2). Moses was given the Law and the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19–20). The Lord spoke to Elijah about a quiet voice (1 Kings 19: 8–12).

Yetzion Haver  King Solomon built a ship in Yetzion Gaver (1 Kings 9:26). Perhaps it was in this port that the Queen of Sheba landed to see Solomon, having heard of his glory (1 Kings 10: 1–13).

Egypt  Abraham came here because of the great famine in Ur (). The Lord told Abraham to teach the Egyptians everything that the Lord revealed to Abraham (). Here Joseph became the ruler in the house of Potiphar after the brothers of Joseph sold him into slavery (Gen. 37:28). Joseph was thrown into prison. He interpreted the dream of Pharaoh and received a high post in Egypt. Joseph met with his brothers. Jacob and his family moved here (Genesis 39–46). The children of Israel were in Goshem during their time in Egypt (Genesis 47: 6).

The Israelites multiplied and “intensified tremendously”; then they fell into slavery to the Egyptians (Exodus 1: 7-14). After a series of executions sent to the people, the pharaoh allowed Israel to leave Egypt (Exodus 12: 31–41). Jeremiah was brought to Egypt (Jer. 43: 4–7).

Kaftor (Crete)  The ancient land of the Minoans.

To the west of the Jordan Valley is the main part of Palestine, which since the Roman conquest has been divided into three regions, counting from north to south: Galilee, Samaria and Judea.

Galilee was famous for its fertility and picturesque landscapes. It is richly irrigated by many springs running from the mountains of Lebanon and Hermon. During the time of Christ, the land was well cultivated and sowed by a wide variety of cereals. Surely, here in Galilee, Christ spoke His parables about the sower, the seed, and the tares.

Through Galilee, as already mentioned, the main caravan trade route from Egypt passed, therefore this region of the country is open to a wide variety of influences both from the East and the West. This place was like a bridge between Africa, Asia Minor and Europe. Here in the city of Nazareth, Christ spent His youth. Among the Galilean fishermen, He chose for himself the first apostles. Most of His ministry took place on the shores of the Lake of Galilee (or Gennisareth).

The population of Galilee was numerous and hardworking. The Galileans had a lively character, were impressionable, loved novelty, and easily succumbed to new and bold ideas; at the same time they were distinguished by deep religiosity.

Many pagans lived in this area. Constant communication with them developed in the Galileans a spirit of tolerance, which the inhabitants of Judea, who were distinguished by petty formalism, were deprived. The inhabitants of Jerusalem constantly reproached the Galileans for the ease with which they treated the Gentiles, and ridiculed their bad pronunciation.

The main cities of Galilee were Tiberias, Khorazin, Nazareth, Cana, Nain, Bethsaida and Capernaum, in which Christ lived most of the time of His public ministry.

Region Samaria  located south of Galilee. This is a more even part of Palestine, very convenient for settlement. Many events of Jewish history took place here. Once together with Galilee, Samaria was the kingdom of Northern Israel, destroyed in the 8th century BC. e. the Assyrians. The conquerors resettled many peasants from the east to Samaria, who, having mixed with the remaining local residents, accepted their faith, while preserving at the same time some of their pagan customs, They began to call them Samaritans. The Jews did not want to see them as brothers in religion, considering them half-pagans. This was the reason for the constant conflicts. The hostility was so great that even in the time of Christ, the Jews who traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem preferred to cross the Jordan twice, just to bypass Samaria. Hence the saying that "The Jews do not communicate with the Samaritans" ().

Judea was located in southern Palestine. She was the exact opposite of the North. The mountainous, barren and gloomy Judea was like a desert with oases. The center of Judea was Jerusalem. The ancient city, covered with the spirit of sacred traditions and fifteen centuries of history, during the earthly life of Christ rose on Mount Zion, surrounded by a mighty wall and a deep moat. The heart of Jerusalem and all Judea was the temple of the Lord. On Easter holiday, believing Jews flocked from all over the world to scatter a sacrifice to God. On great holidays, Christ also came to the city, but the leaders of the Jews were hostile to the Savior, they persecuted Him, therefore he loved to preach in Galilee rather than in Judea.

Eighteen kilometers south of Jerusalem, in the lowlands, between the hills, is the city of Bethlehem. Our Lord was born here.

On the other side of the Jordan, to the east, the whole area is called Jordan. In ancient times, Moabites and Amorites lived there, blocking Moses' path to the promised land. To the north lay the land of Uz, the birthplace of the righteous sufferer Job. In its northern part, Zaordan Palestine embraced five districts: Iturea, Golan, Trahonitida, Vataney and Avran.

South of the Golan and west of Avran was located a number of cities known in the Gospel under the general name Decapolis, or, in Greek, Decapolis. Christ has visited these cities more than once.

The southern part of Zaordan was called Gilead, or Perea

The political situation of Palestine

Before the advent of the Savior into the world and during His earthly life, Palestine was under the rule of the Roman world Power.

Back in 63 BC, the Roman commander Pompeii introduced his troops into Judea and annexed it to the Roman province of Syria. After some time (in 713 from the founding of Rome, or in 37 before the birth of Christ), the Idumean prince Herod, nicknamed the Great, received the imperial title from the Roman Senate and for thirty-seven years ruled all of Palestine and Edom.

Having joined the Roman Empire, the Jews found themselves in the midst of world political, social and religious fermentation. In those years, Rome reached its peak. The capitol proudly ascended over the world, inspiring reverence and fear to the many peoples who inhabited and surrounded the empire. Roman officials inundated the remotest corners of a huge state, charging huge provinces from the provinces. Without affecting the appearance of provincial self-government, Roman dictators gradually deprived them of military and political independence. Promising, bribing, forcing, they put an end to all political freedoms in their homeland, defeating the Republican Party and creating a regime of military dictatorship. After the struggle of dictators in the civil war, Octavian Augustus became the autocratic ruler of the Roman Empire with the title of Princeps. Soon, temples and statues were erected throughout Augustus throughout the country, he was sung praises of, he was declared a "soter" - the savior of the world.

This spectacle of an increasingly magnifying empire, suppressing freedom and enriching its sovereign, could not but impress the people of the East. Everyone felt that something new and incomprehensible was coming. For the Jews, the question was simply resolved. For them, the world empire was the kingdom of the Beast, which would fall from the sword of the coming Messiah. Hostile to Roman rule, the Jews felt the same way about Herod the Great, who, contrary to the will of the people, with the support of the Romans, seized power in Judea.

Pursuing the policy of Rome in Judea, Herod brutally suppressed popular unrest. Immediately after the accession, Herod reorganized the Supreme Council, the Highest Jewish Judicial Court (Sanhedrin). The tsar ordered the execution of 45 members of the Council, and since the Supreme Council consisted, according to Josephus of Flavius, of 71 members, the 26 who survived, against 45, newly appointed by the tsar, could not enforce anything, even if all the law was respected. So with one bloody blow, the highest legislative power of Judea fell into the hands of Herod. The interests of the Edomite king were far from the interests of Orthodox Jews. A strong, cruel and passionate man, Herod was deeply alien to the religious problems that then worried the Jews and the whole world. Debauchery and buildings, wars and political intrigues consumed him entirely. Proud and ambitious, he dreamed of overshadowing the glory of King Solomon and launched an ebullient construction activity. Under him, Palestine was covered with numerous buildings. With equal zeal, he was engaged in the construction of a hippodrome, theaters, temples in honor of Emperor Augustus and the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple. The latter, however, was the subject of his special concerns: Herod invested huge funds in him and turned into one of the wonders of the world. He was proud of his temple. However, this merit of his did not win him the love of the people.

In relation to his subjects, Herod was a despot, a cruel and bloodthirsty tyrant. Painfully suspicious, he strengthened his throne at the cost of many crimes. He killed Mariamne, one of his many wives, along with her two sons - Alexander and Aristovul. Learning through his sister Solomei about the whereabouts of the last descendants of the Hasmoneans. Herod executed them along with her sister's husband.

Five days before his death, Herod executed his son Antipater. When Caesar Augustus found out about this, he, pointing to Herod, said to his associates: "I would rather be his pig than my son." At the same time, Caesar had in mind Jewish law, which forbade the use of pork meat.

But Herod's most cruel and bloodthirsty crime was the beating of many innocent Bethlehem children, which is described by the evangelist Matthew (). The last days of Herod were terrible, he suffered a painful disease. On the bed of the disease he poured curses, tried to commit suicide, raved with bloody reprisals. Josephus reports that Herod ordered his sister to gather 15,000 noble Jews in Jericho and put them to death at the time of his death, in order to make the people cry in any way. But this order was not executed. The day of the death of Herod the Great subsequently became a national Jewish holiday. Herod's funeral was magnificent. Behind the coffin, in which the last king of Judah was dressed in scarlet and crowned with a precious diadem, his three surviving sons walked: Archelaus, Philip, and Antipas.

After the death of Herod the Great, Emperor Augustus divided (according to Herod's will) his kingdom between his three sons as follows: Archelaus gained power over Edom, Judea and Samaria; Antipas - over Galilee and Perea; and Philip - over Iturea, Gavlonitida and Trakhonite region. Antipas and Philip received from Caesar the titles of tetrarchs (quaternaries), Archelaus - ethnarch (regional ruler).

Archelaus claimed the royal throne of Judea, but Augustus left him the title of ethnarch, promising to make him king, provided that he deserves it. But Archelaus did not deserve royal dignity. Like his father, he was a cruel ruler, but did not inherit state abilities from his father. The people did not love him and feared as much as Herod the Great. The reign of Archelaus lasted until 6 years after R. X. For the beating of three thousand Jews on Easter and for other crimes, Augustus sent Archelaus to Gaul, where he died.

From that time on, the Senate began to appoint Roman officials, who were called prosecutors  (by the governors). The prosecutor commanded the army, collected taxes and had the right to execute for important crimes, acting in the name of the emperor. At that time, the Sanhedrin had only visible independence, in fact, it was largely limited by Roman laws. Ruling Judea, Samaria, and Edom, the procurators were at the same time dependent on the Roman ruler, the legate of Syria, a province that included Palestine.

The seat of the procurators was the port city of Caesarea, but on major holidays, especially Easter, they moved to Jerusalem to observe the order and pacify the unrest that had occurred several times during the holidays. The fifth procurator of Judea was Pontius Pilate  (26–36 AD), in which our Lord was executed. Soon after the gospel events for the brutal beating of the Samaritans, he was exiled by the emperor Tiberius to Gaul, where he ended his life by suicide.

Herod Antipas (4–39 according to R. X.), tetrarch of Galilee and Perea ,. He was the lord of the cunning, conceited and depraved. He left his first wife, the daughter of King Aretha, and married Herodias, who was the wife of his brother Philip. For this criminal connection he was convicted by sv. John the Baptist (). Herodias hated the holy Prophet and achieved his death.

Supporters of Herod Antipas were called Herodians. They, like Herod, carried out the policy of Rome in the Galilee and were hostile to the Pharisees. A few years after the Gospel events, the Roman emperor Caligula exiled Herod Antipas to Gaul (39 AD), from where he was subsequently transferred to Spain, where he died.

Herod Philip  controlled the northeastern part of Palestine. His place of residence was Mr. Peneas, who was at the source of the Jordan. Philip adorned, built up this city, called it Caesarea Filippova. He ruled until his death (34 AD).

4. Religious Status of the Jewish People

The first part of the Holy Biblical History spoke briefly about the religious sects and religious life of the Jews after the Babylonian captivity.

I must say that since then, until the time of Christ's coming to earth, little has changed in the religious life of Jews. At the top of Zion, in ancient Jerusalem, silver trumpets of the Levites still sounded in the morning and evening, announcing the beginning of worship in the temple of the Lord. Priests and people gathered in the Temple to offer daily sacrifices to God. And on holidays, especially on Easter, thousands of pilgrims flocked to Jerusalem to purify themselves, pray and give praise to the God of Israel.

Since the time of the Babylonian captivity, religious faith in the people has not died away, it was constantly supported in it by his zealous teachers: scribes and Pharisees.

Every Saturday, Orthodox Jews, from the age of twelve, visited synagogues, which at that time were built everywhere, even in small villages in Palestine. In the big cities there were several, and in Jerusalem, along with the great temple, there were up to four hundred. Synagogues not only served as a place for prayer meetings of believers, but also were schools for raising children in the law of God. Thanks to the synagogues, the law of Moses was introduced into the people throughout Palestine and far beyond its borders.

Word "synagogue"  means actually the "house of assembly." Inside, such houses were rather spacious halls, usually rectangular in shape, sometimes divided into three chapels by the colonnade. In the depths was a special cabinet, hung with a coverlet. It contained scrolls of the Law and other scriptures. In the middle of the synagogue stood a pulpit with a seat for a reader or a preacher and with a lectern for scrolls. Reading and interpreting the Holy Scriptures in the synagogue was allowed for every Jew who was thirty years old.

At the head of the synagogue stood scribe, or teacher of the law.

In the Gospel, scribes are mentioned either with the high priests or with the Pharisees. But the Pharisee and the scribe are not the same thing. Almost all the scribes were Pharisees, from which it does not at all follow that all the Pharisees were scribes. The scribes represented a class of educated people, experts in the Law, so they were sometimes called legalists; pharisees  they represented a party expressing a certain religious movement. According to his religious views, the scribe could be Pharisee, Sadducee, and Essenes.

The volume of activity among the scribes was great. They copied the Holy books, kept the traditions in memory. In synagogues, in prayer meetings, they interpreted the Holy Scriptures, taught children the Law of God, and were also lawyers and judges of the people. The scribes adhered to a literal interpretation of the Law, strictly following the requirements of tradition.

In religious life, they were formalists, content with petty observance of all external rules. For this, Christ often denounced the scribes and Pharisees in His sermons.

Both the scribes and the Pharisees in those days assumed the authority of spiritual teachers and leaders of the chosen people. They strengthened his religious feeling in him, monitored the strict observance of the law of Moses and the traditions of the elders, protected their people from foreign pagan influences and instilled a sense of patriotism in him.

But, taking on such a responsible mission, the scribes and Pharisees themselves were far from a truly religious life.

The religiousness of the scribes and Pharisees was limited only to rituals of a purely external nature. If the external precepts are fulfilled, then man owes nothing more to God. Sincere repentance, humility and zeal were alien to the scribe and Pharisee. The pettiness of traditions obscured before them the most important foundations of the Divine Law. Hypocrisy, immense pride and contempt for the “crowd” - these are the main features that make up the character of the scribe and Pharisee of the Gospel times. True, from the outside it seemed that they live and act exclusively for the glory of God. However, in reality, they sought glory and honor only for themselves.

Of course, such spiritual leaders of the people themselves were far from salvation, and the people were misled. That is why in the Gospel we so often hear the Savior’s formidable accusatory words addressed to the scribes and Pharisees. For this, the “blind leaders” hated Christ, did not recognize the Savior sent by God in Him, and put Him to death. Thus, the religious leaders of Israel, who thought that by their "piety" they contribute to the advance of the Messianic Kingdom, without knowing it, turned away from the true Messiah and began to wait for the false messiah.

Another religious sect that was hostile to Christ was the Sadducees. In its composition, the religious party of the Sadducees encompassed representatives of the ruling Jewish aristocracy. It consisted mainly of representatives of the higher clergy. The high priests who held the highest position in the Sanhedrin were Sadducees. The whole purpose of their activity was to maintain their dominant position in the country. Denying the future life and resurrection, they naturally came to the conclusion that they considered the achievement of earthly goods to be the sole purpose of existence.

The people, who respected the Pharisees for their faith and patriotism, hated the Sadducees, who openly laughed at the popular religion, carried out clearly anti-patriotic policies and robbed the population. In the eyes of the people, the Sadducees lost their authority even in the era of Greek rule. Then they humiliated their rank in every way in order to grovel in favor of the Ptolemies and the Syrian kings. Infected with Greek semi-faith and skepticism, they withdrew from all participation in the famous Maccabees struggle. When the Romans came to replace the Greeks, the Sadducees hastened to assure the Roman procurators of their allegiance to Caesar in order to only retain power in Judea. Fearing that the Great Preacher of Nazareth would not disturb their peace and cause the wrath of Rome, the high priests condemned Christ to death.

The Sanhedrin, which was the Supreme Court of the Jews, while we have already said, consisted of 71 members. All members of the Sanhedrin were divided into three categories:

1. High priests  - the ruling high priest, all former high priests, as well as the heads of the most important priestly families;

2. Elders  - priests and laity representing the most influential and wealthy families of the Jewish people

3. The scribes, or fa teacherswho played an important role in the Sanhedrin. There they were, as it were, expert judges, indicating in each case the appropriate norms of the Law and traditions.

The Sanhedrin, established after the Babylonian captivity, made decisions on important matters of both a religious and political nature. In gospel times, the Romans largely curtailed his power, and, in particular, deprived him of the right to impose the death penalty.

At that time, the expectation of the coming of the Messiah among the Jewish people reached its limit. The Jews involuntarily felt that the time of the Messiah had come. Therefore, when a prominent preacher or prophet appeared in Judea, everyone involuntarily asked if he was Christ. At the same time, many did not clearly imagine in what form Christ would appear, and wanted to see in him an earthly king who would subjugate the whole world to Jews and create an eternal Jewish kingdom on earth.

The most passionate messianists at that time were zealotswho tried to violently accelerate the appearance of the Messiah. Josephus Flavius \u200b\u200bexpressively calls them "boys" who were ready to give their lives for the national liberation of Israel. They were indignant both against Herod the Edomite and against the Romans. Organized in small groups, they carried out armed attacks throughout the country. The people called them sikaria - people with daggers (). Considering only God to be their King, they openly called on the Jews to fight the Romans. This activity of the Sykarians in 66 after R. X. led in Palestine to the explosion of a large rebellion against Rome, which ended sadly for the Jews.

But not all Jews looked at Christ as the king of the earth, more spiritual people expected the Messiah in Him, who would redeem man from slavery to sin, lead the world in an indignant soul, call to Him all those who were weary and burdened, and create the eternal Kingdom of God on earth.

Such was the religious and moral state of the Jewish people when our Lord came to earth. Information about this period of the life of the Jewish people was taken from the Gospel and from Josephus, from his work "Jewish Antiquities."

The birth of Jesus Christ marked the emergence of a new religion and the beginning of a historical era. In the annals accepted calculus "before the birth of Christ" or "BC." He spent almost his whole life in the Middle East in the ancient state that exists today - Palestine.

The connection of Palestine with the mission of Christ

During the fulfillment of the religious mission by Jesus, Palestine occupied a part of the land of modern Israel, which extends westward to the Mediterranean Sea, in the south - to the east, bordering Jordan, and in the north to Lebanon. The northeastern territories of the ancient state overlooked Syria. Caravan routes to Mesopotamia and Greece passed through these lands.

The name of the state of Palestine is missing from the Gospel - the biography of Jesus. The country began to occupy the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea only in 135. An order was issued by the emperor of the Roman Empire. Palestine was divided into several provinces. The areas of Galilee west of the Jordan River and Judea near the Dead Sea are connected with the missionary path of Jesus.

Tradition has it that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Father Joseph served as a carpenter, his wife was called Mary. Previously, the family lived in Nazareth, but after the emperor announced the order of mandatory appearance in the city for the census, they went to their native Bethlehem.

The prophet lived part of his life with his mother in Egypt, but later they returned to Nazareth. Christ received baptism at the age of 30 from John, who served as a preacher. The ceremony was performed on the Jordan River, originating from the Hermon River, on the border between Lebanon and Syria. After this event, Jesus went into the wilderness, where he was 40 days and the same number of nights in complete solitude, fasting and prayer.

Returning, he gathered students and began a mission to save humanity. Jesus traveled with the apostles through the land of Galilee, healing people and showing miracles. During Easter, the prophet appeared in. News of him scattered around the world, which worried the adherents of the Jewish religion. In this city, he was captured during the celebration by order of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. The land ruler sentenced him to death on charges of organizing rebellion and blasphemy. Crucifixion occurred on Mount Calvary. Three days later, the doors to the tomb of Jesus opened, and he appeared to the people alive.

The villages where Christ preached a new teaching and traveled with his followers are called the Holy Land, attracting many pilgrims. These areas are considered the original lands of the Jews. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived here.

The image of Palestine from the time of Christ

In 63 BC Palestine has lost the status of an independent state. The territory was transferred to the administration of Herod, who was in power from 37 to 4 BC. The Roman servant was of Jewish origin and professed the Jewish faith, into which his people were forcibly converted by John Hyrcanus 125 years before Christmas

The city of Banias was named after the god Pan. Later, the son of Herod Philip renamed him Caesarea Philippi.
  This place is mentioned in the New Testament: “But when he came to the countries of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples: for whom do people honor me, the Son of man?”

Capernaum is an ancient city located on the northwest coast of the Tiberias Sea (now - Lake Galilee), in the Galilee, in Israel. Now there is an archaeological monument and two monasteries, Orthodox and Catholic.
  It is mentioned in the New Testament as the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew, John and James. Jesus Christ preached in the synagogue of Capernaum and performed many miracles in this city.

The Ascension Temple on the Mount of Olives or Imvomon was first built between 330 and 378 years by the Roman Pimenius at the site of the Ascension of Jesus Christ on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. In 614 it was destroyed by the Persians, after which it was again rebuilt by the Jerusalem Patriarch Modest.

Christmas Eve fireworks in the city of Nazareth. Nazareth is the city where Jesus Christ grew up.

Church of All Nations, on Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

The Dead Sea.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built on the spot where Jesus Christ was crucified.

The Garden Tomb, located on the north side of Jerusalem, near the Damascus Gate; where there are two ancient ways: the road to Damascus through Shechem and to Jericho. There is a hypothesis that it was here that the execution and subsequent burial of Jesus Christ took place.

The Shroud of Turin is a Christian relic, a four-meter linen cloth into which, according to legend, Joseph of Arimathea wrapped the body of Jesus Christ after his cross suffering and death. Currently stored in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin. On the negative, the face of Jesus Christ is visible.

Gethsemane is the place where Jesus Christ prayed the night before his arrest.

The individual olive trees in this garden, according to some sources, are more than 2000 years old.

The Gethsemane Grotto, which is called the "Grotto of Betrayal". It is here, according to the legend, that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ.

Place of burial of Jesus.

Jerusalem and below it the Kidron Valley. It is believed that this is where God's judgment will take place.

Jerusalem is an old city.

Wadi Harrar. The Jordan River. It is here, according to one legend, that Jesus Christ was baptized.

Kiss of Judah on the fresco of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Tomb of the Virgin. Located in Gethsemane, at the foot of the western slope of the Mount of Olives, in the valley of Kedron, in Jerusalem.

Mount of Beatitudes and a view of the Sea of \u200b\u200bGalilee from the Golan Heights. It was on this mountain that Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount.

Mount of Temptation. After baptism, Jesus fasted forty days and nights in the wilderness of Judea. During this time, the devil appeared to Jesus and, tempting Him. ”

One of the tombs in Gethsemane.

City of Petra, Jordan. Temple in the rock.

The room in which the Last Supper took place on Mount Zion.

Sea of \u200b\u200bGalilee.

The coast of ancient Caesarea.

Israeli soldiers at the crying wall.

Place of birth of Jesus Christ in the grotto of the Nativity of Christ, Bethlehem.

Tabgha. This is the place where Jesus fed his followers:
“When evening came, his disciples came to him and said: the place here is deserted, and the time is already late; let the people go to the village and buy food for themselves. But Jesus said to them: they do not need to go; you give them something to eat. They say to Him: we have only five loaves of bread and two fish. He said to them: Bring them to Me here. And he ordered the people to lay on the grass, and taking five loaves of bread and two fish, he looked up to heaven, blessed and refracted, gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the people. And they all ate and were satisfied, and gathered the remaining pieces of twelve baskets full; and there were about five thousand people who ate, except for women and children. ”

Model of the Temple of Herod, at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. This temple was destroyed. This is exactly the temple from which Jesus drove me out.

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Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Jordan River

Sea of \u200b\u200bGalilee where Jesus walked on water.

"The boat of Jesus" was discovered on the shores of the Sea of \u200b\u200bGalilee. Has an age comparable to biblical events. The connection of this boat with Jesus has not been established.

The tomb of Lazarus in Bethany, where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

Wailing Wall and Temple Mount - Jerusalem.

It is written on a stone: "Pray for peace in Jerusalem." But the peace in Jerusalem is still very far away.

Tomb of the Virgin.

Tomb of Zachariah and the grave of Beni Heziru on Mount of Olives.

Gallile Sea Cruise.

View of the Mount of Olives and churches (Church of All Nations, Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene).

View of the Mount of Olives, Temple Mount, and the Jewish cemetery in the foreground.

One of the largest caves in Israel, the cave of Zedekiah, is located in the northern part of the Old City wall, several tens of meters east of the Damascus Gate.
  Once it was a small natural cave, from which, during the time of King Solomon, limestone was mined for the construction of the First Temple, so the cave has another name - the quarries of King Solomon.

The cave is huge, its total area is about 9000 square meters. m, although the maximum width does not exceed 100 m. It has many halls, corridors, walkways.

This is the site of an ancient city in the Jezreel Valley of northern Israel called Megiddo, or Tel Megiddo. But Christians call this place Armageddon. It is here, according to legend, that the final battle of good and evil will take place.

Panoramic view of the Mount of Olives (Har Hazeiythim) from the east gate of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel.