The town of Magdala (KJV, NKJ) or Magadan (NIB, NASB, RSV, NRS) is was situated on the western shores of the Sea of Galilee, and recent archaeological research suggests that it was, in Jesus's time, the center of a triving n international fishing industry, producing such products as pickled fish and garum (fish sauce) so loved by the Romans, until its importance was overtaken by the opening of Tiberias about 20 AD. It was also the home-town—as is apparent from her name—of Mary Magdalene. In an apparently parallel passage, Mark calls the town, or one nearby, Dalmanutha (Mk 8:10).
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Though Jesus is specifically recorded to have visited Magdala only once when, having "sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan" (Matt 15:39), he may have visited the town more than once when he, on other occasions, "travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons" (Mk 1:39).
In 2009 archaeologists announced they had uncovered in the town a well-preserved—and, from the evidence, prosperous—synagogue that had been in use since the middle of the previous century. It was destroyed during the First Jewish Revolt. They were of the view that it was one of the few places in Israel where they could say with confidence, "Jesus stood here."
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