Notes about the Galileean area

The Galilee area is about 1500 square miles and is very fertile due to the electrical and irrigation systems. Towns are usually set against a hill, with the crops laid out in level fields in the valleys. Rocks are scattered profusely around the hills, resembling sheep, and the sheep in turn, resemble the rocks! Sheep are very stupid animals -- trusting and vunerable; no wonder they have to be shepherded.


On Friday, we traveled to Cana, the site of Jesus' first miracle. Driving through the town, I noticed that all the dwellings were three-storied, box-like, with flat roofs and no carports or garages, built very close to each other. The people who live here must all be apartment dwellers; there is no landscaping, flowers, or grass here. Twelve million people live in Galilee.


Our local guide gave us a little history about the area. Judea is surrounded by desert, but Galilee is surrounded by other nations: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. Back in Jesus' time, the towns that seemed to be hotbeds of rebellion were controlled by garrisons of Roman soldiers. Loyal towns like Capernaum had Senate control and only a contingent of 50-60 soldiers led by a centurion.


Galilee was a good area for framing and craftmen. Builders were needed, and Joseph was a builder, so that is why the Holy Family moved to Nazareth; he could make a living here. Commerce was good because trade was possible with Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Syria, Jordan, etc.


Bassem, our guide, explained the meaning of the Jewish word, "kibbutz." It is a gathering; a community village wherein the residents get no salaries, but do get lodging, food, benefits, education for their children in exchange for working the land that is leased by the State. The early State of Israel set these up so that Jews would get tied to the land -- a form of socialism. There are more than 250 kibbutzes in Israel. Children are often sent there from other locations to be educated. Now, these places have museums, hospitals, etc. The income derived is reinvested. The kibbutzes are declining in number because the younger Jews are not interested in living in a socialist community.