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| Sea of Galilee |
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Source:
Picturesque Palestine, vol. 2,
facing p. 72 |
The Sea of Galilee
from the Heights of Safed
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One of the most charming views on earth is the Sea of Galilee as beheld from
this ancient castle [at Safad]. It appears to be at our very feet, although it
is eight or ten miles away. It lies in a deep basin fully three thousand five
hundred feet below where we are standing, and its surface is bright beneath the
blue sky. Beautiful and quiet, and surrounded by picturesque hills, it has more
the appearance of a work of art than of a natural lake; and one ceases to wonder
at the extravagant praises bestowed upon it by the ancient Hebrews, since it was
justly the pride of their land. (Source:
Picturesque Palestine, vol. 2, p. 74.) |
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On the Shore of the Lake, at Et Tabighah,
the Supposed Site of Bethsaida |
Source:
Picturesque Palestine, vol. 2,
p. 78 |
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The ride along the sea to Tiberias is a
pleasant one, and occupies about one hour. If
the weather is favourable for boats, a white
sail may occasionally be seen far out on the
lake, for the traditional "one boat" has
increased to half-a-dozen or more . . . .
Still the number is very limited, there being
no business to support them . . . .From a
passage in Josephus ("Wars," iii. 10, 6), we
infer that ship-building was one of the
important industries of Tarichæa. And, "when
we add to the fishermen the crowd of
shipbuilders, the many boats of traffic,
pleasure, and passage, we see that the whole
basin must have been a focus of life and
energy, the surface of the lake constantly
dotted with the white sails of vessels flying
before the mountain-gusts, as the beach
sparkled with the houses and palaces, the
synagogues and the temples, of the Jewish or
Roman inhabitants" (Source:
Picturesque Palestine, vol. 2, pp. 70, 72.) |
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Source: Earthly Footsteps of the Man of Galilee,
p. 169 |
The Sea of Galilee |
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This sea is called the Sea of Galilee because
it is embraced in the province by that name.
It is called the Sea of Tiberias because this
is the largest city on its shores. It is
called the Sea of Genesaret because of the
fertile plain which skirts its western shore.
. . . Here lies before us the scene of so many
of our Savior's miracles and teachings. In the
times when Christ was here the cities were
very numerous. According to Josephus, the
smallest of them contained more than fifteen
thousand inhabitants. The waters of this lake
were plowed by four thousand vessels of every
description, from the war vessel of the Romans
to the rough fishing smack of Bethsaida and
the gilded pinnace from Herod's palace . . . .
The view before us is very impressive; a
strong wind has been blowing and the restless
waters dash against the rocky shore, washing
the ruins of the old docks. Beyond are the
hills resting in soft light and above the
overarching heavens, bluer than the sea and
full of beauty and benediction. (Source:
Earthly Footsteps of the Man of Galilee, p.
169.) |
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The Sea of Galilee from the Wall of
Tiberias |
Source:
Earthly Footsteps of the Man of Galilee,
p. 178 |
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In Christ's time the region about the Sea
of Galilee was thronged with intelligent, busy
men, and covered with the marks of
civilisation and prosperity. But all is
changed; and the only signs of life at present
are a few boats on the lake, a few ploughmen
in the fields, and the cattle or tents of the
Bedawin on these sacred hillsides. Still,
although in desolation, this region is to us
one of the most delightful places on earth. No
church or cathedral in civilised lands brings
us so near to the Divine Master as a day spent
on these lonely shores . . . .We have been
across it many times, and examined every
locality north and south of it, and on both
the eastern and western banks; we have seen it
in calm and storm, in summer and winter; and
its beauty grows upon us . . . .And he who
goes from point to point about this hallowed
lake, and observes the changing aspects of sea
and mountains, will find its scenery to be
diversified instead of monotonous and uniform,
and that some of its views possess elements of
unusual loveliness and grandeur. (Source:
Picturesque Palestine, vol. 2, p. 88.) |
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See
Bethsaida,
Beth Shean,
Capernaum,
Huleh Valley,
Jordan
River Sources,
Tiberias, or
Fishing and
Fishermen, |
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