Galilee(gennesaret)
“Circuit or district”
Summary
A northern region of Palestine that served as the primary setting for Jesus Christ's ministry and where most of His disciples originated.
☩Name and Boundaries
The name 'Galilee' derives from the Hebrew galil, meaning 'circuit' or 'district,' originally referring to a region around Kedesh-Naphtali. In Old Testament times, it was a smaller district within Naphtali and perhaps Asher, but by the Roman period it had expanded to include the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali. The province was bounded by Phoenicia and Syria to the north and west, Samaria to the south, and the Jordan River and Sea of Galilee to the east. It was divided into Upper Galilee, a mountainous region with peaks reaching 4,000 feet, and Lower Galilee, characterized by fertile hills and broad valleys.
☩Historical Significance
In the time of Solomon, twenty cities in Galilee were given to Hiram, king of Tyre, though Hiram found them unsatisfactory and called them 'Cabul.' Around 734 BC, Tiglath-pileser III conquered the region and deported many inhabitants to Assyria, leading to an influx of Gentile settlers. This mixing of populations gave rise to the designation 'Galilee of the Gentiles.' After the exile, the Jewish population remained small until the Maccabean period, when Aristobulus compelled many inhabitants to adopt Jewish customs. By the time of Christ, the region contained over 200 towns and villages with a population of two to three million.
☩Jesus and Galilee
Jesus grew up in Nazareth and made Capernaum His base for ministry. The first three Gospels focus primarily on Christ's Galilean ministry, while John emphasizes His work in Judea. Most of the apostles were Galileans, a fact noted with surprise at Pentecost. Though the Judeans looked down on Galilee and its people, questioning whether any prophet could come from there, the region received the greater share of Christ's presence and teaching. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples in Galilee as He had promised.
☩The Sea of Galilee
Also known as the Sea of Tiberias, Lake of Gennesaret, Sea of Chinnereth, and Sea of Chinneroth, this freshwater lake lies 689 feet below sea level and measures about 13 miles long by 8 miles wide. Its shores were lined with populous cities including Capernaum, Bethsaida, Tiberias, Magdala, and Chorazin. Jesus called His first disciples on its shores, taught from boats on its waters, calmed its storms, and performed miraculous catches of fish.
Related Verses82 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Galilee (2)," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Galilee," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Galilee," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Galilee," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 5.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Galilee," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 6.George Morrish, "Galilee," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).