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Tiberias - location profile

Location and Setting

• One of the major cities around the Sea of Galilee in Jesus’ day, Tiberias remains today as the only one of these cities that still exists.
• Herod Antipas built the city in A.D. 18-20, moving his capital there from Sepphoris. He named it Tiberias after the reigning Roman emperor (A.D. 14-37).
• Located about mid-way north and south on the western side of the Sea of Galilee, Tiberias lies some 690 feet below sea level. The city was built along the narrow one thousand-foot wide strip between the lake and the high ridge behind it.
• Just south of the city, the hot water springs at Hammath were well known for many centuries before Herod’s time. (This was probably the Hammath mentioned in Josh 19:35.)
• The proximity of the city to the important fish-salting town of Migdal, three miles north, and the fact that it lay only that distance from the International Coastal Highway that passed through the Valley of the Doves, further enhanced its growth and importance.
• Excavations for the foundations of Tiberias revealed an ancient burial ground. For this reason, most Jews would not enter or live in the city. To populate it, Herod recruited non-Jews, soldiers, freed slaves and those who owned no property. He brought some in by force from other areas. Observant Jews traveling along the western side of the lake would be forced to bypass the city, probably ascending through the Valley of the Doves to the plain above.
• Attaining the status of a polis (city), Tiberias boasted the trappings of Roman culture, large buildings, a stadium, and a fortress on its north side.

Historical and Biblical Significance

• Across the lake, high on the Lower Golan Heights and easily visible from Tiberias, the fortress of Gamala rested on a camel’s back-like ridge. The center of "freedom fighter" activity, it was here in A.D. 6 that a Pharisee scholar named Yehuda (Judah) of Gamala founded the Zealot movement. Although it was doomed to failure (Acts 5:37), the eastern hills above the Sea of Galilee continued to represent the growing resentment of many Galileans against the power of Rome. Just across the lake on its western side, Tiberias, the residence of Herod Antipas, faced Gamala, standing as a constant reminder of the Roman presence and its control over the region.
• The Gospels make no reference to Jesus’ having visited the city, probably because of the ceremonial uncleanness of the burial places there and the offence this could have caused other Jews. Another deterrent would have been the presence of Herod Antipas and his soldiers.
• Although Herod was very aware of Jesus’ ministry, Herod had never seen Him until Pilate sent Jesus to him during Jesus’ Roman trial (Matt 14:1,2; Mark 6:14-16; Luke 9:7-9; 23:6-12).
• Tiberias was easily visible from Capernaum. The people who lived and fished there would always be aware of the power of the man who had built Tiberias and who could be in residence there at any time. Conversely, when Herod was resident in Tiberias, he could enjoy the view of the territory he controlled on the north shore of the lake. Beyond the Jordan River to the north, his brother Philip ruled Gaulanitis, the "Tetrarchy of Philip."
• One of Jesus’ devoted followers was Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward (Luke 8:3). His was a prestigious office, one that involved the managing of Herod’s finances and royal estates. Presumably Chuza lived in Tiberias, Herod’s regional capital, and Joanna would have lived there with him. In the previous verse (8:2), Mary Magdalene, the woman Jesus delivered from demons, is mentioned. She was from the town of Migdal, just three miles along the shore from Tiberias. As Mary, Joanna and other women followed Jesus and financially supported Him and His disciples, they would have come to know each other well. (Had Jesus’ deliverance of Mary convinced Joanna to believe in Him also?) Mary, and probably also Joanna, were present at the cross (Matt 27:55,56; Mark 15:40-41; 23:49). It was Mary from Migdal and Joanna from Tiberias who went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body (Luke 24:10). (May we assume that through Joanna, some of Herod’s wealth found its way into Judas’ "money box" (John 12:8) for the support of Jesus and the Twelve?)
• The day after Jesus fed the five thousand at Bethsaida on the northeastern side of the lake, "there came other small boats from Tiberias to the place where they ate the bread…" (John 6:23). Perhaps this crossing indicates that there were people in Tiberias who were attracted to Jesus, seeing Him as a miracle worker and even perceiving Him as a prophet (John 6:14). (Had Joanna been the source of their information about Jesus?)
• When the Romans put down the Jewish revolt, destroying Jerusalem in A.D.70, Tiberias became the home of the now impotent Sanhedrin after it moved there from Sepphoris in A.D. 217. Tiberias also became the home of the Jerusalem Talmud and later the Massoretic text of the Old Testament.

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.