Gerasa

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

GERASA . A city of the Decapolis of unknown origin, the first known event in its history being its capture by Alexander Jannæus, about b.c. 83. It was rebuilt by the Romans in a.d. 65, and destroyed in the Jewish revolt. Vespasian’s general, Lucius Annius, again took and destroyed the city. In the 2nd cent. a.d. it was a flourishing city, adorned with monuments of art; it was at this time a centre of the worship of Artemis. It afterwards became the seat of a bishop, but seems to have been finally destroyed in the Byzantine age. An uncertain tradition of some Jewish scholars, favoured by some modern writers, identifies it with Ramoth-gilead . The ruins of the city still exist under the modern name Jerâsh  ; they lie among the mountains of Gilead, about 20 miles from the Jordan. These are very extensive, and testify to the importance and magnificence of the city, but they are unfortunately being rapidly destroyed by a colony of Circassians who have been established here. The chief remains are those of the town walls, the street of columns, several temples, a triumphal arch, a hippodrome, a theatre, etc.

Gerasa is not mentioned in the Bible, unless the identification with Ramoth-gilead hold. The Gerasenes referred to in   Mark 5:1 (RV [Note: Revised Version.] ) cannot belong to this place, which is too far away from the Sea of Galilee to suit the story. This name probably refers to a place named Kersa, on the shore of the Lake, which fulfils the requirements. See Gadara.

R. A. S. Macalister.

Holman Bible Dictionary

According to some excellent ancient manuscript evidence,  Mark 5:1 and   Luke 8:26 located the healing of the demon-possessed man who lived among the tombs in “the country of the Gerasenes (Gadarenes)” (“Gerasenes” in Niv, Nas ) This would point to a placed named Gerasa. Such a place existed on the east side of the Sea of Galilee. Selecting among Gadara, Gergesa, and Gerasa as the scene of the healing of the demoniac is one of the more challenging tasks in New Testament studies. See Gadarene .

The other Gerasa was located some twenty-six miles north of present-day Amman in Jordan. Its ruins are among the most excellently preserved in the Middle East. See Arabia .

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

"Gerasenes" is read in  Mark 5:1 by the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts; also in  Luke 8:26 by the Vaticanus A city on the eastern border of Peraea amid the Gilead mountains, 20 miles E. of Jordan, 25 N. of Rubbath Ammon, now Philadelphia. If Gerasa be read for Gadara, "the region of Gerasa" must include Gadara and the coasts of the sea of Tiberius which lay far W. of Gerasa. The ruins are the finest on the E. of Jordan. However Dr. Thomson identifies Gerasa with the Arab Gersa, close to the shore, with a mountain rising at the back, down which the swine might rush and be unable to stop themselves from rushing into the water. In the mountain are ancient tombs which may have been the demoniac's dwelling.

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Gerasa was a town in Decapolis, south-east of the Sea of Galilee. It lay within the region of Gadara and gave its name to the surrounding district. As a result some of the Gadarenes were at times called Gerasenes, even though they may not have lived in the town itself ( Mark 5:1-2; cf.  Matthew 8:28). (For map and other details see Decapolis ; Gadara .)

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Gerasa'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/g/gerasa.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.