The Life of Jesus in Harmony | Index

Galilee

Northern Province of Israel (50 miles N to S and 30 miles E to W).

Galilee was the "garden" of Palestine, well-watered and fertile. It was thickly populated and had many good roads leading in every direction. The main highway was the one that connected Damascus and the Mediterranean and crossed Galilee, through Capernaum where Matthew (Levi) had sat at its custom-house. Galilee was largely influenced by Greek culture, as the prophet Isaiah had said "Galilee of the gentiles," and many non-Jews lived there.

The Galileans were very bold and rough of whom the historian Josephus said learned "war from infancy," and from Galilee sprang most of the Zealots who were always anxious to drive out the Romans from their land. The people of Galilee were very religious, although the Jews in the south doubted their orthodoxy and despised their northern accent.

- Galilee was the most beautiful and fertile section of Palestine.

- Lots of agriculture (Corn, grapes, olives, and fruits) also flowers

- Animals (domestic and wild), great variety of birds,

- numerous springs and brooks and green pastures

- A population estimated as high as three million (numerous villages and towns) industries flourished

- According to sources the people were generous, impulsive, simple in manners, full of intense nationalism, free, and independent of the traditionalism of Judea. There were lots of gentiles there.

- Rabbis of Jerusalem held the Galilean in contempt (manner of speech, colloquialisms, lack of a certain type of culture characteristic of the Jerusalemite). Probably envy since Galilee was so beautiful.

- They were accused of neglecting the traditions and preferred the Haggadah to the Halakkah.

- The Judeans were accustomed to say that no prophet ever arose from Galilee. But such was not the case, since Jonah and probably Nahum were born there and the ministry of both Elijah and Elisha was cast in that section though Elijah was born in Tisbeli of Gilead and Elisha in Abel-Meholah.