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Region in northern
Palestine.
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Galilee is a region
of mountains, rolling hills, and plains in northern Palestine. Lebanon lies
to the north and Syria to the east. Because of its position it was called
"Galilee of the nations" (Isa 9:1).
In Old Testament
times the tribes of Naphtali, Asher, Issachar, and Zebulun settled in
Galilee. Later, the tribe of Dan also settled there. Deborah and Barak
defeated the Canaanite forces led by Sisera in a battle near Mount Tabor
in southern Galilee. Later, the prophets Elijah
and Elisha were active along Galilee's
southern border.
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Hills of central Galilee |
Jesus and many of his early followers were
from Galilee. Jesus spent his early life in Nazareth
before moving to Capernaum along the Sea of Galilee. Peter, Andrew, James, John and other disciples came from other
Galilean towns. Most of Jesus' public ministry took place in this area.
Although Jesus was favorably received in parts of Galilee, towns like
Chorazin and Bethsaida rejected him (Matt 11:21). During Jesus' lifetime,
Galilee was ruled by the Herodian family which built the town of Tiberius
there (John 6:1,23).
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