A First Century Synagogue
Biblical Israel Ministries & Tours (BIMT) is all about teaching the Bible in the context of the land of Israel and other biblical countries (Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Italy). There are over 100 biblical sites in Israel alone that have been excavated. Gamla is one of them.
Below you will see one of our latest YouTube Bible teachings. Specifically, I want to take you into the First Century synagogue that was found here in the 1980s. It is only one of about seven (in total) synagogues found in all of Israel. The size if about 65 x 45 feet. It probably could have fit about 70-80 people (slightly more than the synagogue found at Magdala, for instance. Basaltic stone was used to build the city.
Gamla was a thoroughly Jesus city from the First Century BC. It was the first city taken in 66 AD in the First Revolt against the Romans. The city wall on the eastern side of the city can still be seen today. This includes a large rounded tower. Josephus was here. He shared details of the violent battle that took place. There was also a ritual bath (miqveh) at the entrance of the synagogue.
Gamla is a wonderful site to visit, especially sitting in the synagogue where Jesus most likely taught (Matthew 9).
“There are not many places in Israel where you can walk literally in the footsteps of Jesus. Being here in Gamla is most likely one of those places! While Gamla is not mentioned in the Bible, Jesus was no doubt here (Mt. 9).”
