Magdala (Israel)

See also: Magdala

Magdala is identified in Khirbet Medjdel (Migdal), to approximately 6 km with the NR. - NR. - O. of Tibériade, on the Sea of Galilee.

Located close to the fork formed by the road coming from Tibériade which skirts the Sea of Galilee and that going down from the hills of O., this place occupied a strategic position. The ruins of a relatively recent tower that one discovered there indicate that Medjdel formerly kept the southern entry of the plain of Gennésareth. Medjdel and Magdala (the shape of Hebrew mighdal) mean “Turn”. This place is often regarded as the fatherland of Marie Magdalène.

Magadân could be the same place as Magdala, bus of the more recent manuscripts put in Matthieu 15:39 “Magdala” at the place of “Magadân”. One knows today no place called Magadân in the surroundings of the Sea of Galilee. Marc (8: 10) called the same territory “Dalmanoutha”. Perhaps that Dalmanoutha was simply another name of Magdala, unless it was not a close place of which the name, although little used or little known, nevertheless was preserved in the Gospel Marc.

Magdala was famous for its fish canning facilities. This industry was certainly practical and profitable because fishing in this part of the lake was abundant.

The Macmillan Bible Atlas

See too

Marie de Magdala

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