Galilee and Jesus' ministry

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Galilee is mentioned, by name, seventy-two times in the KJV Bible. Its first mention in Scripture is in regard to God commanding the Israelites to appoint Kedesh, found within the region, as a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7).

During the time of Jesus what was called Galilee by the Romans was composed primarily of the land God had given to the Israelite tribe of Naphtali. Pieces of land formerly given as an inheritance to the tribes of Zebulun, Issachar and Asher were also part of the region. Cities located within the province included Jezreel, Megiddo, Endor, Nain, Cana, Hazor, Sepphoris and Nazareth (where Jesus lived and grew up in until the time of his ministry at the age of 30).

Solomon, as a reward to David's friend King Hiram of Tyre for providing trees and other goods and services for Israel's building projects, gave him as a 'thank you' gift part of the land that would become Galilee (see 2Samuel 5:11, 1Chronicles 14:1, 1Kings 5:1 - 11, 9:10 - 13).

Hiram, however, was so displeased with what he received that he labeled the land "Cabul" (1Kings 9:13), which means "land of dissatisfaction" or "land that is good for nothing." After he gave back the gift (2Chronicles 8:2) Solomon rebuilt some of the cities in the area.

The region of Galilee was populated with Gentiles after the northern ten tribes of Israel were taken out of the land and placed in Assyria as captives. Gentiles continued to live in the land during Jesus ministry. Christ's move, around the age of thirty, from living in Nazareth to living in Capernaum where mostly non-Jews lived, fulfilled Biblical prophecy (Matthew 4:13 - 17).

Sea of Galilee

In the first century A.D. the region encompassed at least one-third of the Western part of Palestine. As such, it was the biggest of the three Roman provinces in the general area (the other two being Samaria and Judea). Its geological features included the plain of Jezreel (known as the great battlefield of Palestine), the Mount of Megiddo (from where the term Armageddon is derived), and Mount Tabor.

New Testament importance

The region of Galilee was the focal point of many events and teachings in Jesus' ministry. Jesus gave no less than nineteen out of at least thirty-two of his parables delineated in the Bible in this area.

Twenty-five of Christ's miracles were performed in the Galilee area, included his first public miracle at a Cana wedding and his last one given just after his resurrection. This area was also the place where Christ gave the message that is the foundation of true Christianity (Matthew 5 - 7, Luke 6:20 - 49).

Recommended Articles
What Are the Cities of Refuge?
Why Did Jesus Use Parables?
Who Was the Ghost of Galilee?
Where Is Mount Megiddo Located?
Timeline of Jesus' Last Visit to Galilee
New Testament Cities Map
Timeline of the New Testament
Miracles in the New Testament!

Credits
Photo courtesy of Grauesel