Nazareth explained to kids

Nazareth is a city in northern Israel. The city is famous for being the home of Jesus Christ. Nazareth is also an important center of Christianity and the site of many Christian holy places. Nazareth is located in the Galilee region of northern Israel. The city is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Jerusalem. The exact location of Nazareth is not known, but it is thought to have been situated on a hill. The city was first mentioned in the Old Testament in the Book of Joshua (19:16). The New Testament says that Jesus was born in Nazareth (Matthew 2:23). Nazareth was a small city in Jesus' time. The population of the city was probably around 1,000 people. Nazareth was not an important city politically or economically. Today, Nazareth is a large city with a population of about 80,000 people. Nazareth is the capital of the Nazareth District in Israel. The city is an important center of Arab culture and tourism.