Site information: Nahalal 

 

   The photo above shows a typical Galilee picture, the view of a valley located west to ancient Nahalal (Mahalul). This valley used to be, during the Ottoman period and earlier, the path of the main road that led from Yizreel valley up to Nazareth.

 

   According to the archaeological survey, Nahalal was inhabited in the Early Bronze period (3150-2200 BC) and in the middle Bronze (Caananite) period (2200-1550BC).

 

   Nahalal was one of Zebulon tribe cities (Joshua 19: 15) and also a Levite city (Joshua 21: 35). The Bible (Judges 1:30) also tells us that initially the city did not yield to the conquering Israelites, due to its strong fortifications, but paid taxes.  An archaeological survey identified remains from the Israelite (Iron) period.

 

   The Jewish Roman town was called "Mahalul", and flourished from the commercially strategic location during the Roman/Byzantine times. It is mentioned in the Jerusalem Talmud: "Nahalal is Mahalul", and listed among the walled cities from the period of Joshua.

   The village contained a magnificent Roman mausoleum. The Roman village may have been one of the Galilee towns that were visited by Jesus, whose home town of Nazareth is located only 6 KM east to the village.