Magdala

An area near the Sea of Galilee where Jesus withdrew after feeding about 4,000; Insight on the Scriptures treats it under MAGADAN, widely identified with Magdala/modern Majdal (Migdal), meaning “Tower” in Hebrew, often said to be Mary Magdalene’s home.

An area near the Sea of Galilee to which Jesus withdrew after his miraculous feeding of about 4,000 men. (Matthew 15:39; manuscripts of more recent date here read “Magdala.”) According to the best Greek manuscripts, Mark 8:10 refers to the same territory as “Dalmanutha.” Insight on the Scriptures treats the name under its entry MAGADAN. No place called Magadan is known today around the Sea of Galilee, but some scholars believe Magadan is the same as Magdala—supporting this is the fact that in Aramaic the letter l often replaces the n of Hebrew words, so Magadan could have become Magdala. Others suggest “Magdala” came into later copies of the Greek text through attempts to equate Magadan with modern Majdal. Magdala (possibly Magadan) is identified with modern Majdal (Migdal), about 6 km (3.5 mi) NNW of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. It lies near the fork where the road from Tiberias along the lake meets the road coming down from the western hills—a strategic position; ruins of a relatively modern tower found there indicate that Majdal once guarded the southern entrance to the Plain of Gennesaret. Both Majdal and Magdala (a form of the Hebrew migh·dalʹ) mean “Tower.” This place is often suggested as the home of Mary Magdalene.