Galilee, Sea of

Galilee, Sea of
   (Matt. 4:18; 15:29), is mentioned in the Bible under three other names.
   1) In the Old Testament it is called the "sea of Chinnereth" (Num. 34:11; Josh. 12:3; 13:27), as is supposed from its harp-like shape. (2). The "lake of Gennesareth" once by Luke (5:1), from the flat district lying on its west coast.
   3) John (6:1; 21:1) calls it the "sea of Tiberias" (q.v.). The modern Arabs retain this name, Bahr Tabariyeh.
   This lake is 12 1/2 miles long, and from 4 to 7 1/2 broad. Its surface is 682 feet below the level of the Mediterranean. Its depth is from 80 to 160 feet. The Jordan enters it 10 1/2 miles below the southern extremity of the Huleh Lake, or about 26 1/2 miles from its source. In this distance of 26 1/2 miles there is a fall in the river of 1,682 feet, or of more than 60 feet to the mile. It is 27 miles east of the Mediterranean, and about 60 miles north-east of Jerusalem. It is of an oval shape, and abounds in fish.
   Its present appearance is thus described: "The utter loneliness and absolute stillness of the scene are exceedingly impressive. It seems as if all nature had gone to rest, languishing under the scorching heat. How different it was in the days of our Lord! Then all was life and bustle along the shores; the cities and villages that thickly studded them resounded with the hum of a busy population; while from hill-side and corn-field came the cheerful cry of shepherd and ploughman. The lake, too, was dotted with dark fishing-boats and spangled with white sails. Now a mournful, solitary silence reigns over sea and shore. The cities are in ruins!"
   This sea is chiefly of interest as associated with the public ministry of our Lord. Capernaum, "his own city" (Matt. 9:1), stood on its shores. From among the fishermen who plied their calling on its waters he chose Peter and his brother Andrew, and James and John, to be disciples, and sent them forth to be "fishers of men" (Matt. 4:18, 22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5: 1-11). He stilled its tempest, saying to the storm that swept over it, "Peace, be still" (Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 7:31-35); and here also he showed himself after his resurrection to his disciples (John 21).
   "The Sea of Galilee is indeed the cradle of the gospel. The subterranean fires of nature prepared a lake basin, through which a river afterwards ran, keeping its waters always fresh. In this basin a vast quantity of shell-fish swarmed, and multiplied to such an extent that they formed the food of an extraordinary profusion of fish. The great variety and abundance of the fish in the lake attracted to its shores a larger and more varied population than existed elsewhere in Palestine, whereby this secluded district was brought into contact with all parts of the world. And this large and varied population, with access to all nations and countries, attracted the Lord Jesus, and induced him to make this spot the centre of his public ministry."

Easton's Bible Dictionary. . 1897.

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  • Galilee,Sea of — Galilee, Sea of or Lake Ti·be·ri·as (tī bîrʹē əs) A freshwater lake of northeast Israel. About 214 m (700 ft) below sea level, it is fed and drained by the Jordan River. * * * …   Universalium

  • Galilee Sea View — (Мошав Рамот,Израиль) Категория отеля: Адрес: Bazelet, Мошав Рамот, 17000, Израиль …   Каталог отелей

  • Galilee, Sea of — ▪ lake, Israel also called  Lake Tiberias,  Arabic  Buḥayrat Ṭabarīyā,  Hebrew  Yam Kinneret,         lake in Israel through which the Jordan River flows. From 1948 to 1967 it was bordered immediately to the northeast by the cease fire line with… …   Universalium

  • Galilee, Sea of — or modern Lake Tiberias or biblical Lake of Gennesaret or Sea of Tiberias or Sea of Chinnereth or Hebrew Yam Kinneret geographical name lake 13 miles (21 kilometers) long & 7 miles (11 kilometers) wide N Israel on Syrian border traversed by… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Galilee, Sea of — In northern Palestine; also called ‘the Lake of Gennesaret’ (Luke 5:1) and ‘the Sea of Tiberias’ (John 6:1), a freshwater lake separating two parts of the River Jordan. It spreads out to 12.8 km. (8 miles) across and its length is about 21 km.… …   Dictionary of the Bible

  • GALILEE, SEA OF —    an expansion of the Jordan, 12½ m. long, and at the most 8 m. broad, enclosed by steep mountains, except on NW …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Galilee, Sea of — freshwater lake; betw. NE Israel, SW Syria, and NW Jordan; 64 sq. mi …   Webster's Gazetteer

  • Galilee, Sea of — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sea of Galilee —     Sea of Tiberias     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Sea of Tiberias     So called in John 21:1 (cf. 6:1), otherwise known as the sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16; John 6:1) or as the lake of Genesareth (Luke 5:1, and Rabbinical writings), or …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Galilee (disambiguation) — Galilee is a large region overlapping with much of the North District of Israel, that is traditionally divided into three regions:* The Upper Galilee * The Lower Galilee * The Western Galilee * Sea of GalileeGalilee can also refer to:* Galilee of …   Wikipedia

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