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GLOSSARY
Nazareth
Pronunciation: NAZ-uh-rehth
Occurrences: 36
First Reference: Yeshua 3:5
Now there lived in Nazareth, beyond the borders of the sea, in Galilee of the nations, Yeshua the Beloved, whose coming was as the dawn unto many. And the Spirit of God spoke unto him, saying:
See: Virgin Birth, Joseph, Miriam
Summary: During the days of Yeshua, Nazareth was small town or village in lower Galilee, about twenty miles west of the Sea of Galilee. Nazareth was the birthplace of both Miriam and Joseph, and the location where they eventually settled to raise their children (AZC — Virgin Birth).
Miriam, the mother of Yeshua, spent the first twelve years of her life in Nazareth before her family was forced to move to Jerusalem. Joseph, was also born and raised in Nazareth and grew quite fond of Miriam before her family left. Joseph re-united with Miriam five years later while doing carpentry work in Jerusalem. At the time, Miriam was pregnant with twins, but this did not stop Joseph from declaring his love for her. A year after Yeshua and Judas Thomas were born, Joseph and Miriam moved from Jerusalem to Nazareth, where they continued to raise their family (AZC — Virgin Birth).
Mary and Yeshua were married in the local synagogue in Nazareth (c. 10 CE). They lived with Yeshua’s parents for three years, until Yeshua was called to study under John the Baptizer in Qumran at the age of nineteen. During this time, Mary stayed at her family’s home in Bethany. After eleven years, Yeshua returned with Mary to Nazareth where they lived with Miriam. Ten years later, Yeshua was called to begin his ministry at the age of forty (AZC — Yeshua and Mary).
Yeshua came to be rejected by his hometown of Nazareth. Nearly a year into his ministry, Yeshua was almost killed by the local scribes and Pharisees who became offended by a sermon he gave at the local synagogue. Had it not been for the timely arrival of Rufinius the centurion, the elders may have succeeded in killing Yeshua (Y:17:1-42).
Notes/References:
See: Map of Galilee