Judea
“Land of Judah, or Jewish land”
Summary
The Greco-Roman name for the southern region of Palestine, including Jerusalem, which formed the heartland of Jewish life in New Testament times.
☩Geographic Extent
Judea (Greek Ioudaia) was the southern portion of Palestine in New Testament times, corresponding roughly to the territory of the ancient tribe of Judah. It extended from the Jordan River and Dead Sea on the east to the Mediterranean on the west, and from Samaria on the north to the Negev wilderness on the south. Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jericho were its chief cities. The region was characterized by hill country in the center, descending to lowlands (the Shephelah) in the west and to the wilderness of Judea in the east toward the Dead Sea.
☩Political History
After the Babylonian exile, Judea was first a Persian province, then came under Greek rule after Alexander's conquests. Following the Maccabean revolt, it achieved independence until the Roman conquest by Pompey in 63 BC. In New Testament times, Judea was sometimes ruled by client kings (Herod the Great, Archelaus) and sometimes directly by Roman governors (procurators) like Pontius Pilate. Judea was the primary setting for Jesus's birth, ministry, death, and resurrection, and for the founding of the early church.