The ancient village of Bethsaida is believed to be located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, but where precisely the abandoned city lies remains a fiercely-debated question among scholars. Recent discoveries at the site of el-Araj have called into question the decades-old claim that et-Tell on the eastern shore of the Jordan River is this lost Biblical city.PaleoJudaica has been following the debate for some years. Start here and follow the links. I take no position on the matter. To resolve it conclusively, we might need to dig up a first-century "Welcome to Bethsaida" sign at one of the sites.[...]
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.