What is the Cove of the Sower?

Between Capernaum and Tabgha is a place barely noticed on a map. The only want to get there is to park at Capernaum's entrance and hike along the shoreline—the perfect activity for a sunny spring Friday.

There's so much to see and explore on the walk:

 

And then, there it is:

A perfect little cove with a view of the sea and Mount Arbel and the Horns of Hattin to the right:

According to Mark's account, Jesus got in a boat and sat in the lake, preaching to the crowd on shore. Bibleplaces.com says that sound tests have been conducted here, and have confirmed that the acoustics here show it is possible for someone to speak by the water and be heard by mutitudes. In fact, 5-7,000 people could have sat below the modern road and more than double could have been on the whole hillside—and all would have heard Him!

Could this be where Jesus gave this teaching?

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!

"Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 'Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.'
Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Mark 4:1-9

Mount Arbel: Soaring over the Galilee

When I first went to the Galilee in on my Bible tour in 2017, I saw this cliff towering over the north end of the lake and said, "I want to go there". 

When I returned October 2021, I saw the same cliff and said, "Yup... I'm definitely going there... in the spring, when the sky will be the most brilliant of blues and the grass lush and green."

Cue my weekend in the Galilee in March. The time had come!

I was going to hike up the cliff, until I heard nonsense like "steep" and even sillier "handholds". Um... nope. Nope nope nope. Instead, I walked all the trails at the top, stayed at least 5 feet from every edge, and "maaaaahhh'ed" at a mountain goat. 

Wow, talk about breathtaking views!

But also, the history of this cliff is once again, INCREDIBLE. As if history cannot be incredible... I don't think that's possible. 

During the Hasmonean Period (The Inter-Testamental Period, or the "400 years of Silence"), Arbel was known as Mount Nitai. It was conquered by the Selucids (Greeks), as noted in the book of 1 Maccabees.

There was a great battle here between Galilean Zealots, who barricaded themselves at Arbel (there are a ton of caves all along the paths and cliffs) and the Selucids in 38 BC. Marc Antony sent Herod to quell a rebellion in the village of "Arbella"... that's Arbel. 

Herod was only able to win by having men lowered down in cages to the caves from the top of the cliffs. They were then able to kill the rebels that didn't jump to their deaths. 

Then, in 66-67 AD, Mount Arbel once again became a site of a great battle. Josephus, who was Commander of the Galilee, actually fortified the caves for refugees both in Mount Arbel and Mount Nitai nearby. To this day, a wall can be seen that was built to protect the caves. 

There's obviously so much more to the history of Arbel, as well as the histories up above. Maybe one day I'll explore them more. I'd love to see the synagogue and the caves! I just need cooler weather, a better sense of balance, and a SIGNIFICANTLY decreased fear of heights, haha. 

Wow! If you ever go to the Galilee, I 100% recommend Mount Arbel! It's incredible!