Difference between revisions of "Chorazin"

<p> <b> CHORAZIN. </b> —Mentioned once only in the Gospels, &nbsp;Matthew 11:21 = &nbsp;Luke 10:13, along with Bethsaida, as one of the ‘cities’ (πόλεις) where most of Jesus’ mighty deeds were done. The name is not found in the OT nor in Josephus; and it is not certain whether it be the same place as ברנים or ברניים mentioned once in the [[Talmud]] (hoth, 85), where the superior quality of its wheat is praised. Jastrow’s gives ‘ near Jerusalem,’ Dalman’s ‘בִּרָוִים name of place.’ One MS has ברוים, two ב׳; see Rabbinowicz, ae Lectiones; Neubauer, Géographie du Talmud, p. 220. Most MSS [Note: SS Manuscripts.] of the NT spell Χοραζ(ε)ίν, others, especially in Luke, Χωραζίν; so [[Stephen]] in Luke, but not Elzevir, Mill; D [Note: Deuteronomist.] both times Χοροζαΐν, and the same form prevails in the Latin texts: <i> C(h)orozain </i> . Why the editions of the Peshitta, even Gwilliams’, spell ܟܴܘܪܰܐܻܝܢ <i> Kôr </i> ăz <i> în </i> , we fail to see. Barhebraeus gives expressly ܟܾܘܪܐܻܝܢ <i> Kurzîn </i> as the vocalization of the Peshitta, and <i> [[Chorazin]] </i> as that of the Greek. </p> <p> Neither the grammatical form of the name (on which see Schwöbel, <i> ZDP </i> V [Note: DPV Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins.] xxvii. 134) nor its etymology is sufficiently clear. The place has been identified with <i> Khersa </i> on the eastern shore of the Lake of Galilee, but more probably with <i> Khirbet Kerâzeh </i> , 4 kilometres N. of Tell Hûm, first discovered by Thomson in 1857. [[Eusebius]] calls it a κώμη ( <i> oppidum </i> ), 12 Roman miles from Capernaum, in his time deserted; but 12 seems to be a misspelling of the MS for 2, as given by the Latin translation of [[Jerome]] (Eusebius, <i> Onomasticon </i> , ed. Klostermann, 174. 25, 175. 25).* [Note: In the Latin text (OS2 114. 7) the name is spelt ‘Chorazin’, not ‘Chorozain,’ as stated in Encyc. Bibl., where also the modern name Kerâzeh is once spelt with K, as if it were ק.] On the ruins of Kerâzeh, especially its synagogue, see the literature quoted by Schürer, <i> GJ </i> V [Note: JV Geschichte des Jüdischen Volkes.] 3 [Note: designates the particular edition of the work referred] § 27, n. [Note: note.] 59. Cheyne’s list of [[Proper]] [[Names]] (in the Queen’s Printers’ <i> Aids to the Student of the [[Holy]] Bible </i> ) recommends the pronunciation <i> Cho-ra’zin </i> ; this is supported by the modern form <i> Kerâzeh </i> , if it be the same name; the accentuation of the first syllable, common in German, has the support of <i> Kurzin </i> in the Peshitta; in Latin <i> Choroza in </i> . The mediaeval explanation of the name ‘hoc mysterium meum’ = הוארִאוי, goes back to Jerome ( <i> OS </i> 61. 8). There was once a tradition that the [[Antichrist]] was to be born in Chorazin, and that its inhabitants were proud of this, and therefore the place was cursed by Jesus; see <i> Expos. Times </i> , xv. [1904] p. 524. The name Chorazin is, like that of Nazareth, an interesting illustration of the scantiness of our literary tradition.† [Note: Among the mighty works done in [[Bethsaida]] the feeding of the 5000 is certainly to be reckoned (&nbsp;Luke 9:10 ff., where ἐπισισισμος of v.12 is to be explained from Βηθσαιδά = οἶκος ἑτισιτισμοῦ [OS 174. 7, 188. 75]). Hence it is tempting to find one of the mighty works done at Chorazin in the healing of the demoniac in the land of the [[Gerasenes]] or [[Gergesenes]] (8:26), and to combine this name with Chorazin. In his Philologica [[Sacra]] (1890, p. 21) the present writer suggesten that the prominent part played by the swine in that story may be derived from a local name like Ras el-chinzir or Tell abu-l-chinzir. The plural of chinzir (swine) is chanazir, of which Chorazin might be a transposition.] </p> <p> Eb. Nestle. </p>

<p> [[Chorazin]] (''Ko-Râ'Zin'' ). A city named with [[Capernaum]] and Bethsaida in the woes pronounced by Christ. &nbsp;Matthew 11:20-23; &nbsp;Luke 10:13. The identification of Chorazin depends largely, though not wholly, upon that of Capernaum. Robinson places it at Tell Hum, but others, with greater probability, fix its site at Kerâzeh, two and a half miles northwest of Tell Hum, and west of the valley of the Jordan. </p>

<p> A town in Galilee, near to Capernaum and Bethsaida, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jerome says it was two miles from Capernaum. No traces of its name remain; but Robinson with strong probability locates it at the modern Tell-hum, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, three miles northeast of Capernaum. It was upbraided by Christ for its impenitence, &nbsp;Matthew 11:21; &nbsp;Luke 10:13 . </p>

<p> City in which some of the Lord's mighty works were done, and on which a woe was pronounced. &nbsp;Matthew 11:21; &nbsp;Luke 10:13 . The woe was also pronounced on Bethsaida and Capernaum. They were all near the Sea of Galilee. Chorazin is identified with the ruins of <i> Kerazeh </i> , 32 55' N, 35 34' E . </p>

<p> <strong> CHORAZIN </strong> . A place referred to only in the denunciation by Christ (&nbsp; Matthew 11:21 , &nbsp; Luke 10:13 ). It is with probability identified with <em> Kerazeh </em> , north of Tell Hum, where are remains of pillars, walls, etc., of basalt. </p> <p> R. A. S. Macalister. </p>

<p> (Χοραζίν v. r. Χοραζείν '', Χοροζαϊ'' v ν, and Χωραζίν )'','' one of the cities (πόλεις ) in which our Lord's mighty works were done, but named only in his denunciation (&nbsp;Matthew 11:21; &nbsp;Luke 10:13; see Scherzer, ''Salvatoris Oraculum, Vet Tibi Chorazin,'' Lips. 1710), in connection with Bethsaida and Capernaum, not far from which, in Galilee, it appears to have been situated. It was known to Jerome, who describes it ''(Comm. In Matthew 11'' ) as on the shore of the lake, 2 miles from Capernaum, or 12 miles, according to Eusebius (Onomast. s.v. Χωραζείν, Chorozain). Some compare the Talmudical ''Keraz N'' [q.v.J (כרזין, ''Menachoth,'' fol. 85, 1), mentioned as being famous for wheat (Reland, ''Palaest.'' p. 722; Schwarz, ''Palest.'' p. 189); while others compare " HAROSHETH (See [[Harosheth]]) (q.v.) of the Gentiles" (הִגּוֹים חֲרשֶׁת, &nbsp;Judges 4:2); and still others consider the name as having been in the vernacular ''Charashin'' (חרשין )'','' i.e. woody places (Lightfoot, p. 160 sq.). [[Origen]] and some MSS. write the name Chora-Zin (Χώρα Ζίν, H. Ernesti, ''Observatt.'' Amst. 1636, 2:6), i.e. ''District Of Zin;'' but this is probably mere conjecture. St.Willibald (about A.D. 750) visited the various places along the lake in the following order- Tiberias, Magdalum, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Chorazin ''(Early Trav.'' Bohn, p. 17), being doubtless guided by local tradition, for the knowledge of the site has become utterly extinct (Robinson, ''Researches,'' 3:295). Some writers at one time supposed it to be the same with ''Kelat El-Ilorsa,'' a place on the eastern shore of the Sea of Gennesareth, where Seetzen ''(Reisen,'' 1:344) and [[Burckhardt]] (Trav. p. 265) describe some ruins; but this is written Kel-Hossu on later maps. A more recent writer (in the Hall. Lit.- Zeit. 1845, No. 233) regards it as a place in [[Wady]] el-Jamus; but this also lacks authority. Pococke (East, 2:72) speaks of a village called Gerasi among the hills west of Tell-Houm, 10 or 12 miles north-north-east of Tiberias, and close to Capernaum. The natives, according to Dr. Richardson, call it Chorasi. It is apparently this place which Keith and [[Van]] de Velde (Memoir, p. 304) call Kerazeh, and describe as containing several pedestals of columns, with leveled shafts, and the remains of a building formed of large hewn stones; while Dr. Robinson (Later Biblical Res. p. 360) rejects the identification with disparagement of the antiquities (p. 347), although he did not visit the site (Biblioth. Sacra, 1853, p. 137), which Dr. Thomson, nevertheless, confidently adopts (Land and Book, 2:8), apparently with good reason. M. De Saulcy is disposed to identify Chorazin with the fountain [[Ain]] et-Tin, near the northern extremity of the plain of Gennesareth; but his arguments, except the vicinity of the spots to the lake, are frivolous (Narrative, 2:371). The question is intimately connected with that of the position of Capernaum (q.v.). Dissertations on the curse pronounced by Christ against this and the neighboring places (&nbsp;Matthew 11:21) have been written in Latin by Scherzer (Lips. 1666), Hornbeck ''(Miscell. Sacr.'' Ultraj. 1687, I, 3:301 sq.), Schott (Tü b. 1766). </p>

<p> '''''kō̇''''' -'''''rā´zin''''' ( Χοραζίν , <i> '''''Chorazı́n''''' </i> , &nbsp;Matthew 11:21; Χωραζίν , <i> '''''Chōrazı́n''''' </i> , &nbsp;Luke 10:13; Westcott and Hort, The New [[Testament]] in Greek Χοραζείν , <i> '''''Chorazeı́n''''' </i> ): A city whose name appears only in the woe pronounced against it by Christ (&nbsp;Matthew 11:21; &nbsp;Luke 10:13 ). Its appearance there, however, shows that it must have been a place of some importance, and highly privileged by the ministry of Jesus. It was already deserted in the time of Eusebius, who places it 2 miles from Capernaum ( <i> Onomasticon </i> , under the word). We can hardly doubt that it is represented by the extensive ruins of <i> '''''Kerāzeh''''' </i> , on the heights to the north of <i> '''''Tell Ḥūm''''' </i> . It is utterly desolate: a few carved stones being seen among the heaps. There are traces of a Roman road which connected the ancient city with the great highway between north and south which touched the lake shore at <i> '''''Khān Minyeh''''' </i> ̌ . </p>

<p> Chora´zin, a town mentioned in; , in connection with Bethsaida and Capernaum, not far from which, in Galilee, it appears to have been situated. Jerome makes it a village of Galilee, on the shore of the Lake Tiberias, two miles from Capernaum. But no place of the name has been historically noticed since his days; and not only the town, but its very name appears to have long since perished. [BETHESDA; CAPERNAUM] </p>