Hill country of Judea

1. Mary visits Elizabeth

   Mary went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and greeted Elizabeth in the house of Zacharias. The baby leaped in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, blessed Mary, who praised God. Mary stayed about three months and then returned home.

   Luke says only that Mary went into the hill country, to a city of Judah; the town is not named. The marker is a representative point for the hill country of Judea.

   Luke 1:39–56John the Baptist · Stop 2

2. The birth of John

   Elizabeth gave birth to a son. When those who came to circumcise him would have named him Zacharias, Elizabeth said he would be called John, and Zacharias wrote, “His name is John.” His mouth was opened, and, filled with the Holy Spirit, he prophesied. The child grew and was in the desert until his public appearance to Israel.

   Luke does not name the town. Mary had visited Elizabeth in a city of Judah in the hill country (Luke 1:39–40), and these things were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea (1:65). The marker is a representative point for the region.

   Luke 1:57–80John the Baptist · Stop 2

• John the Baptiststop 2
• Women in the Gospels and Actsstop 2

• Bethlehem6 km
• Wilderness of Judea13 km
• Pool of Siloam13 km
• Golgotha14 km
• Jerusalem14 km
• Temple Mount14 km

A region; the marker is a representative point (Wikidata, Judaean Mountains). Luke names the hill country and “a city of Judah” but not the town. Later tradition places the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth at Ein Karem, west of Jerusalem; the atlas does not mark it.

Coordinates

31.6667° N, 35.1667° E

Coordinate sources

Wikidata Q2328820 (opens in a new tab)