Where did Jesus say that those in Judea should flee to when they saw the abomination of desolation set up?

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is speaking to His disciples about tumultuous times ahead, like a prophetic warning recalling the features of Old Testament texts, particularly Daniel. When He mentions "the abomination of desolation," He is referencing a critical and shocking moment that people of faith were prepared for after seeing the devastation and sacrilege brought upon the sacred Temple.

Now, when Jesus instructs people in Judea to flee to the mountains, there’s deeper symbolism intertwined with this plane. You can almost imagine His audience envisioning the rugged hills and remote places of safety, a stark contrast to the threatened urban sceneries of their time. Historically, mountains like the ones in Judean wilderness played roles of refuge—think about how David chose to escape to them when being pursued by King Saul.

Fun fact: many people acknowledged fleeing to mountains during the desolating time leading up to the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. Often called "the way out provision," this echoed and reminded everyone about creation narratives, where mountains were viewed as places of closeness to the divine, exemplified by encounters that Moses had atop Sinai.

So, the advice wasn’t just a mere hide-and-seek tactic; it was also a spiritual call to sanctuary where they could reconnect with their faith amidst chaos. In essence, fleeing to the mountains became a step both for the body and the soul in dire times.