5. Nazareth.--A town or "city" in Galilee, of which Biblical mention is found in the New Testament only. Josephus says nothing concerning the place. The name of the existing village, or the Nazareth of to-day, is _En-Nazirah_. This occupies an upland site on the southerly ridge of Lebanon, and "commands a splendid view of the Plain of Esdraelon and Mount Carmel, and is very picturesque in general" (Zenos). The author of the article "Nazareth" in Smith's _Bible Dict._ identifies the modern En-Nazirah, with the Nazareth of old on the following grounds: "It is on the lower declivities of a hill or mountain (Luke 4:29); it is within the limits of the province of Galilee (Mark 1:9); it is near Cana (John 2:1, 2, 11); a precipice exists in the neighborhood (Luke 4:29); and a series of testimonials reaching back to Eusebius represent the place as having occupied the same position." The same writer adds: "Its population is 3000 or 4000; a few are Mohammedans, the rest Latin and Greek Christians. Most of the houses are well built of stone, and appear neat and comfortable. The streets or lanes are narrow and crooked, and after rain are so full of mud and mire as to be almost impassable." At the time of Christ's life the town was not only regarded as unimportant by the Judeans who professed but little respect for Galilee or the Galileans, but as without honor by the Galileans themselves, as appears from the fact that the seemingly contemptuous question, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" was uttered by Nathanael (John 1:46), who was a Galilean and a native of Cana, a neighboring town to Nazareth (John 21:2). Nazareth owes its celebrity to its association with events in the life of Jesus Christ (Matt. 2:23; 13:54; Mark 1:9; 6:1; Luke 1:26; 2:4; 4:23,34; John 1:45,46; 19:19; Acts 2:22). FOOTNOTES: [254] Matt. 2:15; compare Hos. 11:1. [255] Matt. 2:19-23. Note 5, end of chapter. [256] Note 1, end of chapter. [257] Note 2, end of chapter. [258] Luke 2:40. [259] Note 3, end of chapter. [260] Compare His teachings after He had reached manhood, e.g. John 8:32. [261] Deut. 16:1-6; compare Exo. 12:2. [262] Josephus; Wars of the Jews, ii, 1:3. [263] Luke 2:46; read 41-52. [264] Compare Matt. 7:28, 29; 13:54; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:22. [265] Luke 2:35. [266] Luke 2:52. [267] Note 3, end of chapter. [268] Matt. 13:55, 56; Mark 6:3; Luke 4:22; compare Matt. 12:46, 47; Gal. 1:19. [269] For illustrative examples see Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:43); Mary Magdalene, so known from her native town of Magdala (Matt. 27:56); Judas Iscariot, possibly named after his home in Kerioth (Matt. 10:4; see page 225 herein.) [270] Matt. 21:11; John 18:5; 19:19; Acts 2:22; 3:6; see also Luke 4:16. [271] Note 4, end of chapter. [272] John 1:45, 46. CHAPTER 10. IN THE WILDERNESS OF JUDEA. THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.