Where did Jesus feed the 5,000+?

Last week, we talked about the Jesus' miracle of feeding the 5000+ and where it is observed in the Galilee, the Church of the Multiplication. But where did this miracle actually happen?

On a sunny spring Friday in the Galilee, I think I saw the place from above:

The feeding of the 5000+ is in all 4 of the Gospels, one of the only miracles that is in all of them. Both Matthew and Mark say that Jesus and the disciples withdrew to a solitary place. John's account mentions a hill or mountainside, which I'll respond to later. But I want to shine a light on Luke's account:

"Then He took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God and healed those who needed healing. 

Late in the afternoon, the 12 came to him and said, 'Send the crowd away so that they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.'"

Luke 9:10-13

So, according to Luke, this remote place was near Beit Zaida, the hometown of Peter, James, Andrew, and Philip. Luke also uses the word remote in the description. 

The area needed to be big enough for all 5000+ people to sit down, and both Matthew and Mark say there was plenty of room to do so. 

In this photo, taken from Tel Mutilla, you can see the shores of the Galilee. On the shore is a small clump of trees. RIGHT THERE is El Araj, where excavations are currently going on. Last summer, it was concluded that this was Beit Zaida, not the place 2 km (and up a mountain) away.

And stretching beyond that is a plain. Can you see it in the picture? It goes on...

and on (by the way, do you see Gamla in the seam of the mountains in the distance?)

And on!

We saw this place from beside the war memorial at Tel Mutilla, which is up on a hill... not to mention all the hills across the plain (any of those could fit John's description). And while the spectacular view did not fit into 1 camera angle, I tried:

Does this photo (or the 3 above it combined) look like a big enough place with enough grass for around 20,000 people to sit? Does it look desolate/remote? We already know it is beside Beit Zaida. It's also a lot closer to the Golan (literally, it is the Golan now, which is nearer to the Decapolis)

WOW.

We couldn't go to El Araj that day because the rains had made the road impassable. But this view gave a perspective like nothing else could have. I was speechless and overwhelmed. Because, it doesn't take too much imagination to see it all happen right there. 

And then, if you turn to right, you'll see the Galilee spread out before you... which, if you follow the story, the water right in front is likely where Jesus walked on water. 

SERIOUSLY!

And on a beautiful spring Friday, there was beauty all around.