Mount Precipice: A Viewpoint for Biblical Stories
Introduction
Often overlooked in favor of its more famous neighbors, Mount Precipice is an amazing viewpoint for many of the stories from the Bible.
Location of Mount Percipice
Mount Precipice is nestled just south of Nazareth, Israel’s largest city in the Northern District. This site can be easily accessed from downtown Nazareth.
Biblical Context
Mount Precipice, also known as the Mount of Precipitation, holds a special place in the New Testament narrative. It was here that an angry mob, incensed by Jesus’s teachings in the synagogue, attempted to throw him off the cliff. However, in a miraculous and mysterious twist, as Jesus passed through the crowd and went his way and disappeared. This tale Jesus’s escape makes Mount Precipice a site of great interest for those looking to walk in the footsteps of biblical figures.
And they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But He passed through their midst and went His way.
Biblical Panorama: Stories in Sight
From the vantage point of Mount Precipice, visitors can gaze upon a sweeping panorama that encompasses a host of biblically significant sites, each with its own rich tapestry of tales from both the Old and New Testaments.
Jezreel Valley: The expansive plain to the south is the Jezreel Valley, the setting for numerous Old Testament stories. Among them is the epic Battle of Megiddo, where King Josiah of Judah met his end (2 Kings 23:29-30), and the tale of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18).
Mount Carmel: Far in the distance to the west, Mount Carmel rises from the Mediterranean coastline. This is reputedly where the prophet Elijah contested with and defeated the prophets of Baal by calling down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:20-40).
Nazareth: The city stretching out below the cliff of Mount Precipice is none other than Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent his childhood. Here, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive and bear the Son of God, an event known as the Annunciation. The Church of Annunciation was built on the site where this occurred. Additional sites include the Orthodox Church of Annunciation and Mary’s Well.
Mount Tabor: To the east, one can spot the rounded silhouette of Mount Tabor. Tradition identifies this as the site of the Transfiguration, where Jesus appeared radiant in glory to three of his disciples—Peter, James, and John—and conversed with Moses and Elijah. The Church of Transfiguration was built on top of Mount Tabor because of this tradition.
