Matthew 11:20-24 (American Standard Version)
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.
23 And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum were but piles of buildings stones when 19th century travelers reached these sites. One traveler remarked that Capernaum had been cast down as he looked at the piles of stones in from of him at Tel Hum (Capernaum). There were numerous wars and devastating earthquakes in the area. Tiberias and Safed have been rebuilt numerous times after earthquakes caused buildings to collapse on top of those dwelling within.
Chorazin Synagogue
January 2006
According to park authorities the synagogue was built in the third or
fourth century. Jesus did not indicate that there was a synagogue
at the first century Chorazin.
The exact location of the first century Chorazin is not fully proven. This area was named Choriza by the Palestinians. At
Dura-Europas in Syria the 3rd century synagogue was in a large house.
There was a 3rd century Dura-Europas church in a large house also.
There is yet confusion as to where Cana was. There is a Khirbet
Cana and a Kefr Cana, both are about 5 miles from Diocaesarea/Sephoris.
An ancient account of a journey to Cana indicated the distance was about
5 miles from Diocaesarea..
Chorazin Ruins c. 1937
The ruler of the synagogue may have sat in this seat, referred to as the
seat of Moses. The seat is in the Israel Museum and a replica was
placed at the national park.
Passage using the words "Moses seat":
Matthew 23 - American Standard Version - Copyright Expired
1 Then spake
Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples,
2 saying, The
scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat:
3 all things
therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do
not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.
4 Yea, they bind
heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's
shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their
finger.
5 But all their
works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their
phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 and love the
chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 and the
salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye
called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man
your father on the earth: for one is your Father, even he who is
in heaven.
10 Neither be ye
called masters: for one is your master, even the Christ.
11 But he that is
greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever
shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble
himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the
kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves,
neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter.
14 Woe unto you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses,
even while for a pretence ye make long prayers: therefore ye
shall receive greater condemnation.
15 Woe unto you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land
to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him
twofold more a son of hell than yourselves
There was also a Moses seat found at the Hammath Tiberias near the shore of Galilee (Ancient Synagogues in Palestine and Greece, E.L. Sukenik, 1934).
Israel Antiquities Authority web-page about Chorazin: http://www.antiquities.org.il/site_Item_eng.asp?id=132