Migdal or Magdala is the birthplace of Mary Magdalene one of most important woman that support Jesus ministry, it is located in the western side of the Sea of Galilee.
Magdala was a important and prosperous fishing village at the First Century, the time Jesus was active in Galilee.
The ruins of the ancient roman village is now enclosed within a wall. The archaeological research uncovered the ruins of the village dating from the time of Jesus, a Byzantine monastery. and ancient Synagogue. A mosaic floor featuring a fisherman's boat was found at the monastery.
The ruins of ancient village of Magdala are located on the north-west side of the Sea of Galilee, only 5 Kilometers north of Tiberias. This village was the Mary Magdalene's home land, today a town called Migdal by Israelis.
Morphology
Μαγδαλά Magdala, mag-dal-ah´; of Chaldee origin; the tower; Magdala (i.e. Migdala), a place in Israel: — Magdala.“Strong’s Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, n.p.
Mary Magdalene - Μαγδαληνή Magdalene, mag-dal-ay-nay´; feminine of a derivative of Migdal; a female Magdalene, i.e. inhabitant of Magdala: — Magdalene.
Magdala: A tower, a town in Galilee, mentioned only in Matt. 15:39. In the parallel passage in Mark 8:10 this place is called Dalmanutha. It was the birthplace of Mary called the Magdalen, or Mary Magdalene. It was on the west shore of the Lake of Tiberias, and is now probably the small obscure village called el-Mejdel, about 3 miles north-west of Tiberias. In the Talmud this city is called “the city of colour,” and a particular district of it was called “the tower of dyers.” The indigo plant was much cultivated here.“MAGDALA,” Easton’s Bible Dictionary, n.p.
Coasts of Magdala. Mark says, “The parts of Dalmanutha”.” These were probably small towns on the east side of the sea of Galilee, and near to each other. The evangelists do not say that he went to either of those towns, but only to the coasts, or parts, where they were situated. Albert Barnes, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament (Altamonte Springs: OakTree Software, 2006), n.p.
Coasts of Magdala. Mark says, “The parts of Dalmanutha”.” These were probably small towns on the east side of the sea of Galilee, and near to each other. The evangelists do not say that he went to either of those towns, but only to the coasts, or parts, where they were situated. Albert Barnes, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament (Altamonte Springs: OakTree Software, 2006), n.p.
Mary Magdalene. Mary of Magdala. She had peculiar cause of attachment to the Saviour, having been relieved by him of a most dreadful calamity, and restored to her right mind, after being possessed by seven devils, Mark 16:9. And the mother of Zebedee’s children. That is, of James and John, Matt. 10:2. Her name was Salome, Mark 15:40.Albert Barnes, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament (Altamonte Springs: OakTree Software, 2006), n.p.
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Mark 16:9 KJV
“And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” Luke 7:36–50 KJV
We have no record other than this mention in Mk of a place called Dalmanutha. Matthew 15:39 has Magadan, equally unknown. Most interpreters suggest that Magadan is a variant spelling for Magdala, the major center of the Galilean fishing industry. Dalmanutha may be a small anchorage north of Magdala discovered in 1970 (the name Dalmanutha may mean “anchorage” or “enclosure”).Ted Cabal, ed., The Apologetics Study Bible (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), n.p.
Many scholars connect the ancient Magdala to Taricheae. This agrees with Josephus’s frequent accounts elsewhere in his own Life, that Tiberius, and Taricheae, and Gamala, were under this Agrippa, junior, till Justus, the son of Pustus, seized upon them for the Jews, upon the breaking out of the war.
In 1985 a boat, called “the Jesus boat,” was discovered in the depths of the Sea of Galilee between the ancient harbors of Magdala and Ginnosar. Carbon–14 dating places the construction of the boat at about 40 B.C. The boat was likely in service on the Sea of Galilee during the first half of the first century A.D.Ted Cabal, ed., The Apologetics Study Bible (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), n.p.
