NEW TESTAMENT PALESTINE.
THE political geography of Palestine, during the seventy years of New
Testament history, is somewhat complicated, from the two facts, that new
provinces are named in the annals, and also that the government was
changed from regal to provincial, and from provincial to regal, oftener
than once in a generation.
I. THE PROVINCES OF PALESTINE.
These were, on the west of the Jordan, Judæa, Samaria and Galilee; and
on the east, Peræa, and a group of minor principalities, popularly, but
not accurately, called Decapolis. They are indicated upon the map of the
Kingdom of Herod the Great.
1. =Judæa= was the largest province in Palestine. It embraced the
territory anciently belonging to the four tribes, Judah, Benjamin, Dan,
and Simeon. On the east its boundary was the Dead Sea; on the south, the
desert; on the west, the Mediterranean. The northern line, separating it
from Samaria, is less definitely known; but we have adopted the boundary
as given by Conder in "A Handbook to the Bible," where the evidences in
its favor are shown. The southern portion was properly Idumaea, or
western Edom. The Philistine plain, and the Negeb, or "South Country,"
were both known as Daroma.
2. =Samaria= was the central province, between Judæa and the Carmel
range of mountains. Its share of the plain by the sea was known as
Sarona (Sharon), and was occupied almost entirely by Gentiles; while its
mountain region was held by the Samaritans, a people of mingled origin,
partly descended from the remnant of the Ten Tribes after the captivity,
and partly from heathen peoples deported to the territory, of which an
account is contained in 2 Kings 17. They separated from (or rather, were
disfellowshiped by) the Jews in the times of Nehemiah, and built a
temple on Mount Gerizim, B.C. 400. A small remnant still remain in the
ancient city of Shechem, and maintain their ancient worship.
3. =Galilee= was the northern province, extending from Mount Carmel to
Lebanon, and from the Sea of Tiberias to the Mediterranean and
Phoenicia. Its people were Jews, and profoundly attached to the law, but
less superstitious than those of Jerusalem. In this province most of the
ministry of Jesus Christ was accomplished.
[Illustration: TIBERIAS.]
4. =Peræa= extended from the Jordan and the Dead Sea on the west to the
Syrian desert on the east, and from the river Arnon on the south to the
town of Pella on the north; nearly corresponding to the location of the
tribes of Reuben and Gad. The word means "beyond"; and the country was
sometimes called (Mark 10:1) "Judæa by the farther side of Jordan." It
was inhabited during the New Testament period by Jews, among whom were
established many villages of Gentiles.
5. The remaining province has no correct geographical name. It is
sometimes called =Decapolis=; but the term is not precise, and strictly
refers to ten cities, not all of which were in the province. It embraced
no less than five sections, as may be seen upon the map. (1.)
Gaulanitis, the ancient Golan, now _Jaulan_, east of the Jordan,
Tiberias, and Lake Merom, which was then called Samachonitis. (2.)
Auranitis, now _Hauran_, the flat country of Bashan. (3.) Trachonitis,
"rugged," the mountainous district of Bashan, now known as _el Ledja_.
(4.) Iturea, now called _Jedur_, between Mount Hermon and the _Ledja_,
on the north. (5.) Batanea, an Aramaic form of the Hebrew word Bashan,
south of the Hieromax.
Decapolis was "the land of the ten cities." These were ten confederated
Gentile cities standing in Palestine; and, though surrounded by a Jewish
population, preserving their heathen character, and protected by the
Roman government. Their names, as given by different historians, do not
entirely agree; but the best list is: (1.) Scythopolis (Beth-shean).
(2.) Gadara. (3.) Gerasa. (4.) Canatha. (5.) Abila. (6.) Raphana. (7.)
Hippos. (8.) Dion. (9.) Pella. (10.) Capitolias. To these may be added:
(11.) Philadelphia (Rabbath Ammon). (12.) Damascus. As far as
identified, they are named upon the map in red letters. Many of these
cities were destroyed, and their inhabitants massacred, by the Jews, in
the beginning of the final war before the destruction of Jerusalem by
Titus.
[Illustration: PALESTINE DURING THE MINISTRY of JESUS.
A.D. 26.]
II. THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF PALESTINE, B.C. 4-A.D. 70.
1. =The Kingdom of Herod the Great= included all the provinces indicated
upon the map, and described above. This organization came to an end B.C.
4, when Herod died.
2. =The Tetrarchy=, B.C. 4-A.D. 41. The word means "a government of
four," and points to the division of the kingdom after Herod's death,
when Archelaus was made tetrarch of Judæa and Samaria; Antipas (called
in the New Testament "Herod the tetrarch"), of Galilee and Peræa; and
Philip, of the fifth province, east of the Sea of Tiberias. The fourth
tetrarch was Lysanias, who ruled over the small district of Abilene,
between Mount Hermon and Damascus, a separate dominion from that of
Herod. In A.D. 6 Archelaus was deposed, and Judæa and Samaria were
annexed directly to the empire, and governed by a series of procurators,
of whom Pontius Pilate was the sixth. This was the political arrangement
of Palestine during the ministry of Jesus, of which a map is given.
3. =The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa=, A.D. 41-44. Herod Agrippa was a
grandson of Herod the Great, and an intimate friend of the emperor
Caligula, from whom he received the title of king, and all the dominions
of Herod the Great, with Abilene added; so that he reigned over more
territory than any Jewish king after Solomon. He was the "Herod the
king" who slew the apostle James, imprisoned Peter, and died by the
judgment of God at Cæsarea. (Acts 12.)
4. =The Two Provinces=, A.D. 44-70. On the death of Herod Agrippa, his
son, Herod Agrippa II., was a youth of 17. The emperor Claudius gave him
only the tetrarchies formerly held by Philip and Lysanias, "the fifth
province" of Palestine, and Abilene. Over these he reigned until the
final extinction of the Jewish state by Titus, A.D. 70, when he retired
to a private station at Rome. This was the "King Agrippa" before whom
the apostle Paul bore testimony. (Acts 25, 26.) During his reign, Judæa,
Samaria, Galilee and Peræa formed the province of Judæa, under Roman
procurators, having their headquarters at Cæsarea. When the last
rebellion of the Jews had been quelled by the destruction of Jerusalem,
the entire country was annexed to the province of Syria, and the history
of Judæa ended.
[Illustration: THE TWO PROVINCES.
A.D. 44-70.]
THE LIFE OF CHRIST.
AS THE life of Jesus Christ on earth is the most important not only in
all Bible history, but in all human history as well, it is desirable
that the Bible student, and especially the Bible teacher, should obtain
a clear understanding of its leading events, associate them with the
places where they occurred, and arrange them in chronological order. Of
the 150 principal events, about 100 are fixed as to their chronological
order by the common consent of the leading harmonists; about 25 are
agreed upon by the majority; while the remaining 25 are altogether
uncertain. In the outline here given, the authorities most relied upon
are Andrews, Robinson, Geikie, and Strong, yet no one of them is
exclusively followed. We divide the earthly life of Jesus into nine
periods, to each of which is given a separate map, so that the student
may not be confused among the various lines of the Saviour's journeying.
[Illustration: THE POOL OF SILOAM.]
The periods are as follows:
I. Period of Preparation, 30 years, from the Birth to the Baptism of
Jesus.
II. Period of Inauguration, 15 months, from the Baptism to the Rejection
at Nazareth.
III. Period of Early Galilean Ministry, 4 months, from the Rejection at
Nazareth to the Sermon on the Mount.
IV. Period of Later Galilean Ministry, 10 months, from the Sermon on the
Mount to the Feeding of the Five Thousand.
V. Period of Retirement, 6 months, from the Feeding of the Five Thousand
to the Feast of Tabernacles.
VI. Period of Judæan Ministry, 3 months, from the Feast of Tabernacles
to the Feast of Dedication.
VII. Period of Peræan Ministry, 4 months, from the Feast of Dedication
to the Anointing at Bethany.
VIII. Period of the Passion, 8 days, from the Anointing at Bethany to
the Resurrection.
IX. Period of the Resurrection, 40 days, from the Resurrection to the
Ascension.
I. PERIOD OF PREPARATION.
This includes the events of 30 years, from the Birth of Jesus to his
Baptism, and though the longest, contains the fewest recorded incidents
of any. Upon the map are indicated by red lines four journeys of Jesus.
1. =The Presentation in the Temple.= (From Bethlehem to Jerusalem and
return.) From Bethlehem, his birthplace, the infant Jesus, at the age of
40 days, was taken to Jerusalem, to be presented before the Lord in the
Temple. Here he was recognized as the Messiah of Israel, by Simeon and
Anna, and then was taken back to Bethlehem. (Luke 2:22-38.)
2. =The Flight into Egypt.= (From Bethlehem to Egypt.) After the visit
of the Wise Men, the Saviour, still an infant, was taken down to Egypt,
in order to escape the jealousy of Herod the Great. (Matt. 2:1-18.)
3. =The Settlement at Nazareth.= (From Egypt to Nazareth.) After the
death of Herod, Jesus was taken from Egypt to Galilee, to the village of
Nazareth, the early home of Joseph and Mary. Here he spent his youth.
(Matt. 2:19-23.)
4. =The Visit to the Temple.= (From Nazareth to Jerusalem and return.)
The only recorded event of the Saviour's youth, is his journey to
Jerusalem, at the age of 12 years, to attend the Passover. On the return
journey, he was lost by his parents, and after three days, found in the
Temple (probably in the Court of the Women), conversing with the doctors
of the law. He returned with Joseph and Mary to Nazareth (Luke 2:40-52),
and thenceforth no events in his life for 18 years are related.
The places in this period are: (1.) Bethlehem, a village six miles
southwest of Jerusalem, now _Beit-lahm_. (2.) The Temple in Jerusalem.
(See plan on page 138.) (3.) Nazareth, a village on the border of the
Plain of Esdraelon, in Galilee, now _en Nasireh_, a place of 6,000
population.
[Illustration: THE LIFE OF CHRIST
MAP 1.
PERIOD OF PREPARATION, FROM THE BIRTH TO THE BAPTISM.]
OUTLINE REVIEW OF JOURNEYS--FIRST PERIOD.
PERIOD OF PREPARATION.
1. _Presentation in the Temple._ (Bethlehem to
Jerusalem and return.) Recognized by Simeon and
Anna.
2. _Flight into Egypt._ (Bethlehem to Egypt.)
Escape from Herod.
3. _Settlement at Nazareth._ (Egypt to Nazareth.)
Childhood and youth.
4. _Visit to the Temple._ (Nazareth to Jerusalem
and return.) Found among the doctors.
II. PERIOD OF INAUGURATION.
This embraces 15 months, from the Baptism of Jesus to the Rejection at
Nazareth, and contains the record of five journeys. Its places are as
follows: 1. Nazareth, already located. 2. Bethabara was formerly
supposed to be the ancient Beth-Nimrah, now _Nimrin_, on a small stream
east of the Jordan, not far from the Dead Sea. But Conder locates it at
_Abarah_, a ford of the Jordan above Beth-shean, and near the Sea of
Galilee. 3. "The Wilderness" is probably the uninhabited region of Judæa
near the Dead Sea, though it may have been the desert far to the south.
4. Cana is located at _Kefr Kenna_, northeast of Nazareth, though Dr.
Robinson places it at _Kana el Jelil_, 9 miles north of Nazareth. 5.
Capernaum was probably at _Khan Minyeh_, on the west of the Sea of
Galilee, though long located at _Tell Hum_, on the north. 6. Jerusalem.
7. Sychar, the ancient Shechem, now _Nablus_, beside Mount Gerizim. The
journeys of this period are named, each from its leading event.
1. =The Baptism.= (From Nazareth to Bethabara.) Near the close of John
the Baptist's ministry, Jesus left his carpenter shop at Nazareth, and
journeyed down the Jordan Valley to Bethabara. There he was baptized by
John, and received from heaven the testimony of his sonship. (Matt.
3:13-17.)
2. =The Temptation.= (From Bethabara to the Wilderness and return.) (1.)
Immediately after his baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the
Wilderness, where he fasted 40 days, and overcame the temptations of
Satan. (Matt. 4:1-11.) (2.) Returning to Bethabara, he received the
testimony of John the Baptist, and met his earliest followers, Andrew
and Peter, John, Philip, and Nathanael. (John 1:37-50.)
[Illustration: THE LIFE OF CHRIST
MAP 2.
PERIOD OF INAUGURATION, FROM THE BAPTISM TO THE REJECTION AT NAZARETH.]
3. =The Marriage at Cana.= (Bethabara to Cana and Capernaum.) (1.) Jesus
left Bethabara, journeyed up the Jordan Valley to Galilee, and over the
mountains to Cana, near Nazareth. Here he was present at a wedding, and
wrought his first miracle, turning the water into wine. (2.) Thence,
with his mother and brothers, he went down to Capernaum, by the Sea of
Galilee, and remained a few days. (John 2:1-12.)
4. =The First Passover.= (Capernaum to Jerusalem.) (1.) Soon after the
wedding feast Jesus went up to Jerusalem, probably by way of the Jordan
Valley, to attend the first Passover of his ministry. (John 2:13.) (2.)
At Jerusalem he asserted his authority by cleansing the Temple from the
traders. (John 2:14-22.) (3.) He held the conversation with Nicodemus
concerning the new birth, and remained for a time in Judæa, gathering a
few disciples, yet not making his ministry prominent, while his
forerunner was still preaching. (John 3:1-36.)
5. =The Return to Galilee.= (Jerusalem to Sychar and Cana.) (1.) As soon
as the teaching of John the Baptist was ended by his imprisonment, Jesus
left Judæa to open his own public ministry. (2.) He went through
Samaria, and paused at Jacob's well for the conversation with the
Samaritan woman, and then remained at Sychar, the ancient Shechem, two
days. (3.) At Cana, the place of his earlier miracle, he spoke the word
of healing for a nobleman's son, who was sick at Capernaum. (John
4:1-54.)
OUTLINE REVIEW OF JOURNEYS--SECOND PERIOD.
PERIOD OF INAUGURATION.
1. _Baptism._ (Nazareth to Bethabara.)
2. _Temptation._ (Bethabara to Wilderness and
return.) (1.) The temptation. (2.) The first
followers.
3. _Marriage at Cana._ (Bethabara to Cana and
Capernaum.) (1.) The first miracle. (2.) The visit
to Capernaum.
4. _First Passover._ (Capernaum to Jerusalem.)
(1.) The Passover. (2.) Cleansing the Temple. (3.)
Discourse with Nicodemus.
5. _Return to Galilee._ (Jerusalem to Sychar and
Cana.) (1.) The departure. (2.) The woman of
Samaria. (3.) The nobleman's son.
[Illustration: BETHLEHEM.]
III. PERIOD OF EARLY GALILEAN MINISTRY.
This is a period of about four months, from the Rejection at Nazareth to
the Sermon on the Mount. It brings to notice six places, most of which
have been already noticed. 1. Cana. 2. Nazareth. 3. Capernaum. 4.
Eastern Galilee, the region on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. 5.
Jerusalem. 6. The mountain of the sermon. This was probably _Kurûn
Hattin_, "the horns of Hattin," a mountain with a double peak, a few
miles from the Sea of Galilee. The journeys of this period are four in
number.
1. =The Opening of the Ministry.= (From Cana to Nazareth and Capernaum.)
(1.) He came (perhaps from Cana) to Nazareth, with the intention of
commencing his ministry in his own home. But his towns-people rejected
his message, and would have slain him if he had not escaped from their
hands. (Luke 4:16-31.) (2.) Rejected in his own city, he removed to
Capernaum, which thenceforward was the centre of his ministry for more
than a year. (Luke 4:31.) (3.) Here he called from their work at the
seaside his four earliest disciples, Simon and Andrew, James and John.
They had known him before, but now left all to follow him. (Luke
5:1-11.) (4.) In the synagogue, on the sabbath, he cast out an evil
spirit (Luke 4:33-36), and healed the mother of Peter's wife. (Luke
4:38-40.)
2. =The Tour in Eastern Galilee.= (From Capernaum through Eastern
Galilee and return.) (1.) This journey was probably near the Sea of
Galilee, and may not have occupied more than a few weeks. (2.) During
its progress he healed a leper, whose testimony led such multitudes to
come seeking miracles that Jesus was compelled to go into retirement.
(3.) On his return to Capernaum he healed a paralytic let down through
the roof, and (4.) called the publican Matthew to be one of his
disciples. (Luke 5:17-28.)
3. =The Second Passover.= (From Capernaum to Jerusalem and return.) (1.)
In the spring of the second year of his ministry he went up to the feast
at the capital, and while there healed a cripple at the Pool of
Bethesda. (John 5:1-47.) (2.) On his return, while walking through the
wheat fields, he asserted his authority as "Lord of the sabbath." (Luke
6:1-5.) (3.) On a sabbath soon after, he healed in the synagogue a man
with a withered hand. (Luke 6:6-11.)
4. =The Sermon on the Mount.= (From Capernaum to the mountain.) (1.) The
opposition of the Pharisees caused Jesus to leave Capernaum and instruct
the people by the sea-shore. (Mark 3:7-12.) (2.) He ascended a mountain,
probably _Kurûn Hattin_, and, after a night in prayer, appointed the
Twelve Apostles. (Luke 6:12-16.) (3.) To the disciples and the multitude
he preached the Sermon on the Mount. (Matt. 5-7.)
OUTLINE REVIEW OF JOURNEYS--THIRD PERIOD.
PERIOD OF EARLY GALILEAN MINISTRY.
1. _Opening of the Ministry._ (Cana to Nazareth and Capernaum.) (1.)
Rejection at Nazareth. (2.) Settlement at Capernaum. (3.) Calling of
Simon and Andrew, James and John. (4.) Demoniac healed, and Peter's
wife's mother healed.
2. _Tour in Eastern Galilee._ (Capernaum to Eastern Galilee and return.)
(1.) Preaching in Galilee. (2.) Leper healed. (3.) Paralytic healed.
(4.) Matthew called.
3. _Second Passover._ (Capernaum to Jerusalem and return.) (1.) The
cripple at Bethesda. (2.) Through the wheat fields. (3.) Withered hand
healed.
4. _Sermon on the Mount._ (Capernaum to the mountain.) (1.) By the sea.
(2.) Calling the Twelve. (3.) The sermon.
[Illustration: THE LIFE OF CHRIST
MAP 3.
EARLY GALILEAN MINISTRY FROM THE REJECTION AT NAZARETH TO THE SERMON ON
THE MOUNT.]
IV. THE LATER GALILEAN MINISTRY.
This period of ten months, from the Sermon on the Mount to the Feeding
of the Five Thousand, was a time of opposition on the part of the ruling
classes, but continued popularity among the people. The places which
Jesus visited at this time were: 1. Capernaum, already noticed, and
still the headquarters of his ministry. 2. Nain, now called _Nein_, on
the northwestern edge of Little Hermon, six miles southeast of Nazareth,
in full view of Mount Tabor. 3. "The country of the Gadarenes" (Mark
5:1); called by Matthew (8:28) "the country of the Gergesenes." Gadara
was the largest city of the region, situated south of the Sea of
Galilee, and giving its name to the district; Gergesa, the little
village east of the Sea of Galilee, now called _Khersa_. 4. Nazareth,
already noticed under Period I. 5. Bethsaida, a city at the head of the
Sea of Galilee, supposed by some to have been on both sides of the
Jordan, by others on the east side. 6. The plain of Gennesaret, near to
Capernaum. We arrange the events of this period under four journeys.
1. =The Tour in Southern Galilee.= (From Capernaum to Nain and return.)
The following events belong to this tour: (1.) At Capernaum, before
starting, Jesus healed the slave of a believing centurion. (Luke
7:1-10.) (2.) On the next day he led his disciples southward to Nain,
where he raised to life the widow's son, about to be buried. (Luke
7:11-17.) (3.) Perhaps at the same time and place he received the
messengers and answered the questions of John the Baptist. (Luke
7:18-35.) (4.) During the journey he was entertained by a Pharisee, at
whose house "a woman who was a sinner" washed his feet. (Luke 7:36-50.)
(5.) On his return the healing of a dumb demoniac occasioned the
Pharisees to assume an open opposition, and to declare that his miracles
were wrought by the power of the evil spirit. (Luke 11:14-26.) (6.) At
the same time occurred the interference of his mother and brethren,
desiring to restrain him. (Luke 8:19-21.)
2. =The Gadarene Voyage.= (Capernaum to Gergesa and return.) With this
journey are associated four events. (1.) The opposition of the enemies
caused Jesus to leave the city, and to teach in parables by the sea.
(Matt. 13:1-53.) (2.) From the shore, near Capernaum, he set sail for
the country of the Gadarenes, east of the Sea of Galilee, and on the
voyage stilled a sudden tempest. (Mark 4:35-41.) (3.) At the eastern
shore, near the village of Gergesa, he restored two demoniacs, permitted
the demons to enter a herd of swine, and as a result was besought by the
people to leave their coasts. (4.) Returning across the sea to
Capernaum, he raised to life the daughter of Jairus the ruler. (Luke
8:41-56.)
3. =The Tour in Central Galilee.= (From Capernaum to Nazareth and
return.) (1.) Starting from Capernaum with his disciples, he visited
Nazareth a second time, but was again rejected by its people. (Mark
6:1-6.) (2.) He then gave the Twelve a charge, and sent them out to
preach. (Matt. 10:5-42.) (3.) While they were absent upon their mission,
Jesus himself also journeyed preaching through Central Galilee. (Mark
6:6.) This was his third tour in Galilee. (4.) On his return to
Capernaum, he received the report of the Twelve, and the news of John
the Baptist's murder by Herod Antipas. (Mark 6:14-30.)
4. =The Retirement to Bethsaida.= (1.) The multitudes following him led
Jesus to leave Capernaum by sea for a retired place near Bethsaida.
(Mark 6:31, 32.) (2.) The people hastened after Jesus, and met him as he
landed, so that he was compelled to teach them all day, and wrought in
the afternoon the miracle of the Five Loaves. (Mark 6:32-44.) (3.) After
the miracle he sent the disciples out upon the sea, and at midnight
walked to them upon the water. (Mark 6:45-51.) (4.) In the morning they
landed at the plain of Gennesaret, near Capernaum, where Jesus wrought
many miracles (Mark 6:52-56), and then returned to Capernaum. (5.) Here
he completed his Galilean ministry by a discourse in the synagogue on
the "Bread of Life." (John 6:25-59.)
[Illustration: THE LIFE OF CHRIST
MAP 4.
LATER GALILEAN MINISTRY
A.D. 28-29.]
OUTLINE REVIEW OF JOURNEYS--FOURTH PERIOD.
PERIOD OF LATER GALILEAN MINISTRY.
1. _Tour in Southern Galilee._ (Capernaum to Nain and return.) (1.)
Centurion's servant healed. (2.) Widow's son at Nain raised. (3.)
Messengers from John. (4.) Washing the Saviour's feet. (5.) Dumb
demoniac, and opposition of Pharisees. (6.) Interference of relatives.
2. _Gadarene Voyage._ (Capernaum to Gergesa and return.) (1.) Parables
by the sea. (2.) Stilling the tempest. (3.) Gadarene demoniacs. (4.)
Jairus' daughter raised.
3. _Tour in Central Galilee._ (Capernaum to Nazareth and return.) (1.)
Second rejection at Nazareth. (2.) Mission of the Twelve. (3.) Third
tour in Galilee. (4.) Report of the Twelve, and death of John the
Baptist.
4. _Retirement to Bethsaida._ (Capernaum to Bethsaida and return.) (1.)
Seeking retirement. (2.) Feeding the five thousand. (3.) Walking on the
sea. (4.) Miracles at Gennesaret. (5.) Discourse on the "Bread of Life."
V. PERIOD OF RETIREMENT.
During most of the six months, from the Feeding of the Five Thousand to
the Feast of Tabernacles, in the fall before Christ's crucifixion, he
remained in retirement, engaged in instructing his disciples in the
deeper truths of the gospel. The places visited at this time were: 1.
Phoenicia, "the coasts of Tyre and Sidon," probably only the borders
near Galilee, not the cities themselves. 2. Decapolis, the region of the
"ten cities," southeast of the Sea of Galilee; a country mainly
inhabited by a heathen population. 3. Dalmanutha, a village on the
western shore of the Sea of Galilee, not certainly identified, but
perhaps at _Ain el Barideh_, two miles from Tiberias. 4. Bethsaida,
already noticed under Period IV. 5. Cæsarea Philippi, at the foot of
Mount Hermon, now _Banias_. 6. Capernaum, already noticed under Period
II.