These facts may noAv be used to illustrate the tAvo occasions on Avhich Jesus is recorded to have been on the Sea in a storm (Mt S^s, Mk 4^^ Lk 8^3 ; and Mt 14^*, Mk 6^, Jn 6'^). On the former of these the journey Avas from Capernaum to Gergesa, and the Avind Avas from the north-east. Thus the boat Avas struck on its side, and so ' the Avaves beat into the ship ' and it became ' filled.' On the second occasion they Avere attempting to pass from Beth- saida Julias to Capernaum. The Avind Avas against them, bloAving doAvn the WadyHamdm, and over the Plain of Gennesaret, so that they Avere ' toiling in roAving, for the Avind Avas contrary. ' It is also
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SEA OF GALILEE
SEA OF GALILEE
made clear to us that, although the wind pre- vented their getting to Capernaum, it Avas not such as would prevent boats coming from Tiberias ( Jn 018-24) Even in the height of the storm they could have, under the shelter of the western hills, pro- ceeded as far as Mejdel, and thus come early upon the scene at any point at the north end of the Lake when once the storm was calmed.
It might be imagined that the cessation of the storms might mean simply the passing from an exposed and stormy to a calmer and protected region, but in both the cases recorded this is im- possible. In the first instance, when the wind was from the north-east, the whole Sea would be dis- turbed ; while in the latter case the Sea to the north of Mejdel would be all afiected by the storm ; and as the passage was between el-Batjha and the Plain of Gennesaret, the boat would not even ap- proach the region of calm.
iv. Industries. — During the peaceful years of Christ's ministry the whole Lake-basin was be- coming a focus of life and energy. We have already indicated, by references to Josephus and the Rabbis, what the land was in the process of becoming in so far as agriculture, was concerned. The tilling of the soil must have been a tempting occupation where the land was so fertile, so well watered everywhere, and enjoyed so much of the sunshine. Besides, it could be sown two and even three times in the year. At the present time in the plain of cl-Batiha this is the case. After the corn harvest is gathered in, Indian corn may be sown ; and Aslien this also has ripened and been cleared off", the land and the season are ready for vegetables and water melons. The peculiar climate, too, ripens the har- vest a month earlier than on the higher lands of Galilee and Bashan. The melons and the cucumbers are ready for use fully four A\eeks before those of Acre and Damascus, so that the prospect of greater gain by being able to anticipate the markets in all the larger toAvns must have been a powerful incen- tive to diligence when the means of transjjort were easier than now. We know that the fruits of Gennesaret were taken to Jud.nea (M. Mciaser Sheni ii. 3), though it is said that they were not allowed in Jerusalem, lest on account of their goodness they should form an inducement, apart from the spiritual one, forpilgrimsto journey thither {^«6. Pcsach.Sb). With so much activity was this work pursued, that the hiring of day-labourers seems to have been quite common, and tliey were Avont to go from Tiberias to till the lands of Beth-maon {Kul'at ihn Mcian), which lands we believe to have been in the Plain of Gennesaret (Jerus. Bab. Met. vii. 1 ; and cf. Mt 20^"''). Nor can we overlook the work of the shepherd, so closely bound up with agriculture, and to which there is so frequent reference in the Gosjjel story ; but, just as in modern times, this work would be less j^ursued by the Lake side than on the neighbouring hills, where we know that even the flocks of Judaea were pastured (Baba Bathra V. 1).
Then the Gospels set before us a very great activity in fishing. There was a Jewish tradition that the fishing in the Lake was to be free to all, subject to the one condition that stakes were not to be set that might impede the progress of boats ; and tradition further said that the freedom had been conferred by Joshua {Baba Qama, 80b). Not only the statements of the NT, but the names of the towns and villages, lead us to the knowledge of activity in this direction. Thus we have two towns of the name of Bethsaida ('FisheiTow') ; a village called Migdol Nunia ('Fish-tower'), probably situ- ated at ^Ain Barideh {Pesach. 46a), and the great city of Tariclieoi ('Fish factory') at the south end of the Lake. At Tarir.hece, as the name indicates, the fish were salted and dried, and to-day the salt
can be seen here encrusted on the sand like hoar- frost. So far as the Mosaic laAv was concerned, the fish in the Sea of Galilee were all clean ; but, as one jjassage in the Gospels draws a distinction be- tween 'good' and 'bacl' (Mt IS"*'- ^«), it may be of interest to note that the Jews of the present day, for some superstitious reason, refuse to eat one kind named burbfit (Lynch, p. 165). Josephus {Vita, 12) found that the fishers were a strong party in Tiberias also, so we may conclude that the boats that came thence were used for fishing (Jn 6-'3).