Nazareth

This village’s name may have been derived name as a lookout or “watchtower” for the defense of Galilee. [Hebrew: natzar: “to watch” or “to guard”]. Ancient Nazareth was located on a steep ridge slope at 1300 feet above sea level, about 22 km (14 mi.) from the Sea of Galilee and nearly 9.5 km. (6 mi.) from Mount Tabor.

Here was the hometown of Joseph and Mary. (Luke 2:39) Here, they separately heard the angelic announcement that she would give birth to the Messiah. (Luke 1:26-28) After returning from asylum in Egypt, with his family from infancy to adulthood, Jesus grew up in Nazareth (Luke 4:16). 

He began his public ministry in the local synagogue. (Matthew 13:54) The people present were so offended that they sought to cast him down from the precipice of the slope of Nazareth. (Luke 4:29) Twice, Nazareth’s people expelled Jesus from their borders. (Luke 4:16-29; Matthew 13:54-58) Due to their unbelief, Jesus did not do many mighty works. (Matthew 13:58), Finally, retiring from Nazareth, Jesus took up His residence in Capernaum.

It is supposed from the words of Nathanael, “can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”(John 1:46) that Nazareth was held in great shame because the people of Galilee were a rude and less cultivated city. Or they were influenced mainly by the Gentiles who mingled with them. On the other hand, maybe it was their lower moral and religious character. 

The Jews believed, according to Micah 5:2, the birth of the Messiah would take place at Bethlehem and nowhere else. Nathanael held the same opinion as his countrymen and believed that the “good” they expected could not come from Nazareth. This reasoning may have been what Nathanael meant. Moreover, there is not any evidence that the inhabitants of this area were in any respect inferior.