Hippos Sussita Decapolis city approach and flyover

Ten Greek city-states (the Decapolis) had been planted near the Sea of Galilee by the Greeks after Alexander the Great had conquered the Middle East. The idea was to infuse the region with Greek practices and thought. Many of these practices were directly opposed to the teachings of Torah, so it’s not surprising that the cities of Decapolis were devoid of synagogues and any significant Jewish presence. Cities of Greek influence had no problem eating pork, for instance. Sexual immorality – as defined by the Bible – was celebrated in places like Hippos. Athletes competed in the nude. Education in the gymnasium focused on Greek values and ignored biblical ones. Little wonder the rabbis of that era sometimes called such pagan cities a “far country.” The closest city of the Decapolis to Jesus and his disciples was Hippos, also called Sussita. This video can be used to help illustrate the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Though it was only a parable, it’s likely that more than a few Jewish sons had succumbed to the temptations offered by Hippos or its sister cities. The steep slopes of the hills of the Golan Heights also provide a striking visual for the day when Jesus healed the Gerasene (Gadarene) demoniac. We’re not sure exactly where that story took place. Gadara was another city of the Decapolis, located in modern-day Jordan. From the ruins of that city, one can see the Sea of Galilee. Gerasa was a larger member of the Decapolis, and the larger area became known as the region of the Gerasenes. The entire eastern shoreline of the Sea of Galilee is bordered by steep hills, a perfect place for crazed pigs to make a suicidal dash for the lake (Luke 8:33).