Mount Precipice is a high point overlooking Nazareth. It is also known as Mount Kedimum. My wife and I visited Mount Precipice on our trip from Tel Aviv to Tiberias after stops that included Caesarea National Park, The Discalced Carmelite Monastery and The Church of the Annunciation.
In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 4, we read:
29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
It is here, at Mount Precipice, that this incident from Luke is said to have taken place. As you walk around this high point, you see the steep side of the cliff, where a fall would surely have killed someone. This view is looking south. In the distance is a place called Afula.
Mount Precipice includes a park as well as a Memorial site. From the high point looking east, you can see Mount Tabor. Some legends suggest that Jesus lept from Mount Precipice, landing on Mount Tabor, which seems a bit more far fetched than the accounting in Luke that he passed through the throng of pursuers undetected. In the photo below, you can see Mount Tabor and, looking closely, the Sea of Galilee to the right.
There is a trail that leads up to the precipice called The Gospel Trail. Along this trail are various scenic stops designed for pilgrims to gather, pray and reflect. There is also a paved trail for people who may want to visit the precipice without taking the scenic route. The trail itself is not limited to just the mount, extending from Mount Precipice to the Kessulot Valley.
The focal point of the Mount Precipice Memorial is an olive tree planted by Pope John Paul II. The tree was planted as a symbol of peace between religions.
Another view from the precipice. I can't recall which direction this was facing or any significance in the buildings pictured. But it does provide a bit of perspective on the elevation as there is another smaller hilltop nearby.
Now, the nitty gritty. Is this really the exact cliff where the locals were going to throw Jesus headlong to his death? Maybe not. The spot is not exactly adjacent to Nazareth. It is about a mile and a half away. It certainly could be the location, but there are other locations that make a bit more sense. Some scholars believe the spot to be on the northern slops of ancient Nazareth where there are currently churches located.
The point is, it may or may not be the spot. But the view is incredible and worth seeing. It is free. It is somewhat on the way if you are traveling toward Tiberias. And it is not hard to get to. We spent about half an hour here. The scenery can be breathed in and reflected upon without dwelling excessively. Of course, if you are at a leisurely pace, you can walk the trails a bit and visit some of the reflective spots along the trail. Or for the ambitious, you can hike the trail. Our short visit was long enough to snap some photos and talk about the history. This particular spot has some other ancient history to include a ritual burial mound that dates back 50,000 years. A nearby excavation uncovered 18 layers of civilizations at this location. For history buffs, it may be worth a detour to that area of Mount Precipice, which we did not visit.
Stay tuned for more snippets on my trip to Israel.
A Christian Guide to Israel
Hotels
Cinema Hotel, Tel Aviv, Israel
Ron Beach Hotel, Tiberias, Israel
Prima Park Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel
Attractions
Caesarea National Park Caesarea, Israel
Mount Precipice Mount Kedimum, Israel
Sea of Galilee Boat Ride Tiberias, Israel
Yigal Alon Museum (Jesus Boat) Ginosar, Israel
Capernaum, Israel
St. Peter’s Restaurant
Caesarea Phillipi, Banias, Israel
Israeli 6-Day War Memorial
Jordan River Baptismal Site, Yardenit, Israel
Beit She’an National Park, Beit She’an, Israel
Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel
Garden Tomb, Jerusalem, Israel
Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel
Western Wall Tunnels, Jerusalem, Israel
Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem, Israel
Bethlehem New Store Gift Shop
Pool of Bethesda, Jerusalem, Israel
Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, Israel
House of Caiaphas the High Priest, Jerusalem, Israel
The Upper Room, Jerusalem, Israel
Tomb of King David, Jerusalem, Israel
Masada National Park, Masada, Israel
The Dead Sea, Masada, Israel
Churches
Discalced Carmelite Monastery Muhraqa, Israel
Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth, Israel
St. Peter’s Church, Capernaum, Israel
Church of the Multiplication, Tabgha, Israel
Church of the Beatitudes, Tabgha, Israel
Church of All Nations, Jerusalem, Israel
Church of Saint Anne, Jerusalem, Israel
Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem, Israel
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Israel