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Chorazin - location profile

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Location and Setting

• Located on a hillside nearly nine hundred feet above the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Chorazin is situated in a region of black basaltic (volcanic) rock.
• One route of the International Coastal Highway passed between Chorazin and Capernaum, two miles to the south of Chorazin.
• Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum formed what is called the "evangelical triangle" because most of Jesus’ miracles in Galilee were performed in these cities. In light of Jesus’ condemnation of them for their unbelief, the word "evangelical" would more accurately refer to the preaching of the gospel there, rather than the character of their inhabitants (Matt 11:20-30)!
• People who lived in Chorazin could see the other cities of the "evangelical triangle," Capernaum to the south and Bethsaida to the east.
• The city was comparable in size to Capernaum, apparently with a similar synagogue. All buildings were made of the volcanic basalt found also around Capernaum, Bethsaida and Gamala. The "insula," the complex of wall-to-wall homes, was larger in Chorazin than in Capernaum.
• The remains of "Chorazin" seen today are not those of the city of Jesus’ day because no first century remains have been found there. The original city was probably located above the present road that passes eastward to Moshav Almagor.
• The remains of the third or fourth century synagogue are similar to those of Capernaum and other Galilean towns, reminders of the tours in which Jesus was "preaching in their synagogues."
• 

Historical and Biblical Significance

• Together with Capernaum and Bethsaida, Jesus condemned Chorazin for its unbelief despite His doing most of His miracles in these cities (Matt 11:20-24).
• Jesus coupled Chorazin with Bethsaida, as He compared their condemnation to that of the cities of Tyre and Sidon (Matt 11:20-24).
• As the closest city to Capernaum, it is likely that Jesus often visited Chorazin. The people there would probably be as aware of who He was and what He taught as those in Capernaum.

Bibliography

1. Bimson, John J., ed. Baker Encyclopedia of Bible Places. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1995.
2. Rousseau, John J. and Rami Arav. Jesus and His World: An Archaeological and Cultural Dictionary. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995.