Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judah (Lk 2:4), which is the city of David. Joseph and Mary left Nazareth and went to Bethlehem to be registered in a Roman census. Later, Jesus’ parents returned to Nazareth, where Jesus grew up (Mt 2:23). Nazareth was a small city in Galilee. Nazareth lay on a southeastern slope of a valley. On three sides of the small city were mountains at least 500 feet above the valley. South of Nazareth was the great plain of Esdraelon, with the Sea of Galilee to the east. In the valley, there were gardens full of flowers and trees. Just outside the city, cypress trees surrounded the homes of the village people. The Nazarene scene was beautiful through all four seasons.
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