Among the productions of Galilee, the olive was perhaps the most prominent. In the Blessing of Moses it is said of Asher, ' let him dip his foot in oil ' (Dt :3:524). The Kabbis said, ' In Asher oil flows like a river,' and 'It is easier to raise a legion of olive trees in Galilee than to raise one child in Judiea.' Both Syrians and Phcenicians, and fre- quently people from a greater distance, obtained their main supply of oil from this province. Great stores of it existed iu Jotapata, so that in the siege of that place by the Romans oil was heated anil poured over the soldiers who were crowding up to the walls, an<l. as it was at the same time set on fire, the effect was terribly disastrous. Of the vast quantity of oil which Solomon gave yearly to king Hiram; 1.50,000 or L'00,000 gallons, a large proportion was supplied from Galilee (2 Ch 2^"). It is needless to add that the amount of revenue derived from this source was great.
Next to the oil, the amount of wheat raised in Galilee was equally surprising. For this article the demand of Phffinicia, whose sliips went over the world, was enormous. In Ac 12-", when war was on the point of breaking out between Herod Agrippa I. and the people of Tyre and Sidon, the latter succeeded in appeasing Herod's anger, which for them was most fortunate, since without the supplies of various kinds which they derived from his country they could not live.
Not only oil, wheat, and barley, but large quan- tities of dried tigs, grapes, wine, pomegranates, honey, were raised and sent abroad, as well as numberless fatted fowl, .sheep, and cattle. Flax also was produced in large quantities, which the weaving establishments and dye-houses of the sea- coast towns transformed into useful or costly and beautiful fabrics. *
Moreover, the fisheries of the Sea of Galilee must be mentioned as one of the chief indu.stries of this province. Choice kinds of fish were abundant, and when properly prepared were sent over the world. Bom Taricliea and Bethsaida seem to have derived their names from the tish factories for which they were famous.
The PlKenician coast lying so near Galilee, all its industries, manufactures, commerce, and luxuri- ous living would only increase the market facili- ties of Galilee, of which her industrious inhabitants were ever ready to avail themselves. The pros- perity of Galilee was enhanced by the network of roads which covered it (see Smith, IIGHL 42o f.). These roads help to explain al.so the facility with which the ix^<" iissembled, which so often thronged our Lord.
Besides it-s natural attractions, its varied pro- ductions and commercial facilities, its popnhms- ness and wealth, (ialilee appeals to us more strongly than in any other way by its unic|ue place in the religious history of the world. It w.us the cradle of the Christian faith. Joseph and Mary belcmged to Nazareth, and there .lesiis lived the larger part of His life. The peculiar influences of this mountain city, and its wonderful outlook oTer land ami .sea, no doubt had their eflcot upon the mind of ("lirist during His boyhood and youth. When He desired larger op|iortunities for reaching His fellow-men, He did not go out of His province
to Jerasalem, Kome, or elsewhere, but removed to (;apernatun on the shore of the Lake (Mt 9'). A large proportion of the apostles, the men who helped to shape early Christianity, were from Galilee— namely, Peter, Philip, Andrew, James, John, all of whom were from Bethsaida ; Matthew from Capernaum ; besides Bartholomew or Na- thanael, and James the Le.ss, son of Alitlueus and Mary, and possibly others, for even those who were not born there could by virtue of residence and labours be clas.sed as Galiheans (Ac 1"). There is a tradition that the parents of the Apostle Paul came from (Jischala in Galilee, which is not at all improbable when we remem- ber how large a number of Jews in the days of Herod went forth from Palestine to seek their fortunes in the distant commercial centres of the Roman world. Salome the wife of Zebedee, Anna the prophetess who joined in the welcome to the infant Jesus, furnish hints as to the piety and intelligence of the women of this province.
It is scarcely necessary to look back to the pre- Israelitish period. Still even then the Baal wor- shippers from the seacoast, who sought out the most attractive spots for their degrading rites, had crowded in and set up their altars in the most beautiful groves and on many of the hills of Galilee — Kede.sh, Dan, and C.-esarea Philippi being some of the best-known of the.se idolatrous centres.
It is a significant fact that the Jews, after the destruction of Jerusalem, shotild have chosen Galilee as their religious centre. This becomes indeed a matter of great surprise when we con- sider the relations of the orthodox Jews to the Founder of Christianity and His followers as these are portrayed to us in the Gospels. They must have considered it a congenial atmosphere for their libraries, schools, and learned men, f<n' heri^ these flourished in a remarkable manner. During the long period of three or more centuries many synagogues were erected, and remains of some of these are still found at different places, those at Biram, Chorazin, and Tell Hum being familiar to everybody. Here, before A.D. 200, the Mishna had been compiled, i.e. the oral or traditional law to which Christ so often referred was given a fixed form by being written down, and also the com- mentary on this, known as the Palestinian Talmud, was made, having been completed about two centuries later. Tiberias, like Safcd, became one of the sacred cities of the Jews, and here the great Mairaonides and some other of their famous Rabbis were buried.