Bethsaida (Beit Saida) Lookout, Golan Heights

The name Bethsaida means "house of hunt" in Hebrew. Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum are called the "evangelical triangle," because most of Jesus’ miracles were performed in these cities. Bethsaida was the home of three of Jesus’ disciples, Peter Andrew and Philip (John 1:44). Jesus’ famous walk on water (Mark 6:45-51); healing of the blind man (Mark 8:22-25) and the feeding of five thousand (Luke 9:12-17) occurred in Bethsaida. In Matthew 11:21 Jesus cursed Bethsaida for its faithlessness.

The exact location of Bethsaida has not been convincingly established so far. However, two sites, viz. et-Tel (about 1.5 miles near where the Jordan River enters the Sea of Galilee) and el-‘Araj (located near the northeastern shore of the lake) have been proposed. Majority agree with et-Tel. Archaeological excavations at et-Tel revealed a settlement (Bethsaida?) founded in the 10th century BC which was part of the Aramaean kingdom of Geshur (see II Samuel 3:3; 14:32; II Kings 15:29-30; 16:7-9). King Herod Philip I converted Bethsaida into a city and renamed it Julias (30 AD).

Bethsaida lookout in Golan Heights gives you a broad idea about the geography of biblical Galilee. The view from the observation point covers most of the sites associated with Jesus' public ministry. In fact, just outside the northern end of Sea of Galilee where Jordan River joins the lake, lies ancient Bethsaida. The green ravines observed from the lookout are called Beit Saida Valley in Israel and are presently part of a nature reserve (Jordan River Park).