Nahalal 

   This photo shows a typical Galilee picture, the view of a valley located west of 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 B.C.) and in the Middle Bronze (Caananite) period (2200-1550 B.C.).

   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 Galilean towns that was visited by Jesus, whose hometown of Nazareth is located only 6 KM (3.7 miles) to the east. Recently, a Roman period Sabbath stone was found in a field nearby.