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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 216.99.203.xxx (talk) at 07:21, 29 September 2001 (Initial text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897 -- please update as needed). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

\Galilee\

circuit. Solomon rewarded Hiram for certain services rendered

him by the gift of an upland plain among the mountains of

Naphtali. Hiram was dissatisfied with the gift, and called it

"the land of Cabul" (q.v.). The Jews called it Galil. It

continued long to be occupied by the original inhabitants, and

hence came to be called "Galilee of the Gentiles" (Matt. 4:15),

and also "Upper Galilee," to distinguish it from the extensive

addition afterwards made to it toward the south, which was

usually called "Lower Galilee." In the time of our Lord, Galilee

embraced more than one-third of Western Palestine, extending

"from Dan on the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, to the

ridges of Carmel and Gilboa on the south, and from the Jordan

valley on the east away across the splendid plains of Jezreel

and Acre to the shores of the Mediterranean on the west."

Palestine was divided into three provinces, Judea, Samaria, and

Galilee, which comprehended the whole northern section of the

country (Acts 9:31), and was the largest of the three.

It was the scene of some of the most memorable events of

Jewish history. Galilee also was the home of our Lord during at

least thirty years of his life. The first three Gospels are

chiefly taken up with our Lord's public ministry in this

province. "The entire province is encircled with a halo of holy

associations connected with the life, works, and teachings of

Jesus of Nazareth." "It is noteworthy that of his thirty-two

beautiful parables, no less than ninteen were spoken in Galilee.

And it is no less remarkable that of his entire thirty-three

great miracles, twenty-five were wrought in this province. His

first miracle was wrought at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, and

his last, after his resurrection, on the shore of Galilee's sea.

In Galilee our Lord delivered the Sermon on The Mount, and the

discourses on 'The Bread of Life,' on 'Purity,' on

'Forgiveness,' and on 'Humility.' In Galilee he called his first

disciples; and there occurred the sublime scene of the

Transfiguration" (Porter's Through Samaria).

When the Sanhedrin were about to proceed with some plan for

the condemnation of our Lord (John 7:45-52), Nicodemus

interposed in his behalf. (Comp. Deut. 1:16,17; 17:8.) They

replied, "Art thou also of Galilee?.... Out of Galilee ariseth

no prophet." This saying of theirs was "not historically true,

for two prophets at least had arisen from Galilee, Jonah of

Gath-hepher, and the greatest of all the prophets, Elijah of

Thisbe, and perhaps also Nahum and Hosea. Their contempt for

Galilee made them lose sight of historical accuracy" (Alford,

Com.).

The Galilean accent differed from that of Jerusalem in being

broader and more guttural (Mark 14:70).

Initial text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897 -- Please update as needed