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Ginae - location profile

Location and Setting

• Known as Beth-haggan in the Monarchy period, the town was located seven miles south of Jezreel and five miles northeast of Dothan.
• Beth-haggan was situated in a plain near the source of the streams that lead into the "waters of Taanach" on the Plain of Jezreel. A main route from the east passed through Jezreel to Beth-haggan to Ibleam and on to Dothan.
• Renamed Ginae by the Romans, in the first century A.D. this ancient site marked the boundary between Samaria and Lower Galilee.
• Ginae lies below the southwestern slopes of Mount Gilboa, from which it is clearly visible.

Historical and Biblical Significance

• It is likely that the Ishmaelites and Midianites, who bought Joseph from his brothers, passed through Beth-haggan as they traveled from the east through Jezreel to Dothan.
• Beth-haggan was only a mile or so from Ibleam, at the head of the ascent of Gur. It was here that Jehu mortally wounded Ahaziah of Judah. The record reads: "And Jehu pursued him and said, ‘Shoot him, in the chariot.’ So they shot him at the ascent of Gur, which was at Ibleam. But he fled to Megiddo and died there" (2 Kgs 9:27).
• On His last journey to Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples passed through Samaria. If their route from Galilee followed the main road from Lower Galilee through Samaria, they would have entered that region at Ginae. This began the events of "Luke’s travel narrative" beginning in Luke 9:51.
• It is likely, then, that Ginae was the town referred to in this passage: ". . .and He sent messengers on ahead of Him. And they went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make arrangements for Him. And they did not receive Him, because He was journeying with His face towards Jerusalem" (Luke 9:52,53). James and John responded to this rejection by offering to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans. It is possible that this proposal reflected the fact that only days before, James and John had met with Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration. If they were following this route, they would have passed within easy sight of Mount Carmel where God answered Elijah’s prayer by sending down fire on the prophets of Baal (1 Kgs 18:30-38). Having just met with Elijah, it would be likely that reference would have been made to this Mount Carmel incident as they traveled. James and John may have concluded that fire from heaven would be an appropriate judgment on the Samaritans of Ginae like the prophets of Baal, who had insulted their Lord.
• These brothers may also have been remembering the occasion when Elijah called down fire from heaven to destroy the men who were on their way to consult a Philistine god on behalf of King Ahaziah of Israel (2 Kgs 1:9-14).

Bibliography

1. Smith, George Adam. The Historical Geography of the Holy Land. London: Collins Clear-Type Press, 1966.
2. Tenney, Merrill C. "Beth-haggan" The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976.