4. The physical characteristics. — These are
principally two : (a) abundance of water, and (h) fertilitj' of soil. As to («), the words of the ancient promise, ' for the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths springing forth in valleys and hills' (Dt 8'), are literally true of Galilee, particularly in its southern half. Large quantities of water are collected during the rainy season among the higher slopes and plateaus, and are thence dispersed by the rivers and streams over the lower-lying tracts, where they become stored in springs and wells. There are the two lakes already mentioned — Huleh, 3^ miles long by 3 miles wide (the Samechonitis of Josephus, but probably not the Waters of Merom of Jos W'-'' [cf. Masterman, Studies in Galilee, p. 26 f., and EBi iii. 3038]); the Lake of Galilee (Gennesaret), 13 miles long by 8 miles broad at its widest point. Round its shores are the ruins of at least nine ancient cities or towns. These are Chorazin, Capernaum, Magdala, Tiberias, Tari- cheffi, Hippos, Gamala, Gergesa, and Bethsaida. The principal rivers of the province are the Jordan, the Litany, the Kishon, and the Belus. In addi- tion to these lakes and rivers, there are many greater streams and innumerable springs and wells. These waters, together with the copious dews of the summer, give Galilee the advantage over Samaria and set it in marked contrast to Judaea.
As to (b), all authorities unite in celebrating the natural wealth of Galilee. The other half of the promise made to the Hebrews was also true of this highly favoured province. It was ' a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig trees and i>omegran- ates ; a land of oil olives and honey ; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it ' (Dt 8'*- ^). Josephus bears witness that the soil was universally rich and fruit- ful, and that it invited even the most slothful to take pains in its cultivation (Jos. BJ III. iii. 2). Even to-day, when such large tracts lie unculti- vated, no part of Palestine is more productive. The chief products were oil, wine, wheat, and fish. ' In Asher, oil flows like a river,' said the Rabbis, who also held that it was ' easier to raise a legion of olive trees in Galilee than to raise one child in Judrt-a.' Gischala was the chief place of manufac- ture. There were also large stores at Jotapata during the Roman War. Considerable quantities were sent to Tyre and to Egypt. Made from the olive trees, the oil was used princii^ally for exter- nal application, for illumination, and in connexion with religious ritual. Wine was made in many quarters of the province, the best qualities coming from Sigona ; while wheat and otlier grains were plentifully raised all over Lower Galilee, especially round about Sepphoris and in the fields of the Plain of Gennesaret. The fish, for which the province was always noted in ancient times, M'as caught in the inland lakes, particularly in the Lake of Galilee. It formed a large part of the food of the lake-side dwellers, and a considerable trade was carried on by the fish-catchers and fish-curers of the large towns on the shore. The best fishing-grounds were, and still are, at el-Bataiha in the north, and in the bay of Tabigha, at the N.W. corner. Tarichete, in the south, was another centre of the industry. In addition to the al)Ove-mentioned commodities, Galilee produced flax from which fine linen fabrics were woven, pottery, and a rich dj-e made from the indigo plant. The prosperity of the province was enhanced by its proximity to the Phoenician ports, and by the network of highways which crossed it in all directions.
5. The inhabitants. — To-day Galilee possesses a remarkably mixed population, and its inhabitants are physically finer than those of the southern pro- vinces (cf. Masterman, pp. 17-20). In apostolic times, the same was true. Along the western and
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nortliern borders were the Syrophccnicians (MkT-''), or Tyrians (as Josephus calls them), while from the east nomadic Bedouins were continually press- ing in upon the lower-lying tracts. But besides these Semitic elements, Greeks and Graecized Syrians were distributed over parts of the land (Masterman, p. 120), and Romans made their in- fluence felt throughout a large area of the province. Only in the more secluded towns among the hills would Jewish life be preserved in its characteristic purity. In spite, however, of the mingling of nationalities, the Galiheans were thoroughly and patriotically Jewish during the 1st cent, of the Christian era. Wherever a true Jew settled abroad, he kept himself distinct from his neighbours, cling- ing tenaciously to his religion and to his racial customs. And the same thing happened with the Jew at home, when Gentile immigrants settled within his borders. His contempt for foreigners and foreign ways helped him to keep his own character and traditions intact. The Galilseans were industrious workers — the bulk of them being cultivators of the soil or tenders of the fruit- trees. They were brave soldiers too, as may be learned from the chronicles of Josephus.
' The GalUaeans are inured to war from their infancy, and have been always very numerous ; nor has their country ever been destitute of men of courage ' (Jos. BJ ill. iii. 2).