Galilee, Judea, Samaria: Key Regions and Biblical Sites in Palestine

Galilee

The most northerly region of Palestine and the most favored by nature.

Bethsaida

A fishing village, north of the Lake of Tiberius and the birthplace of Peter, Andrew and Philip.

Chorazin

A town in Galilee about 2.5 miles north of Capernaum, denounced by Jesus for remaining unrepentant.

Cana

A village of Galilee, located north of Nazareth, and the site of Jesus' first miracle.

Capernaum

Little town located northwest of Lake Tiberias which served as headquarters for Jesus' ministry in Galilee.

Gennesareth

Plain to the northwest of the Sea of Tiberias, named after a town close to Capernaum.

Magdala

Small port on the shore of the Lake of Tiberias; Mary Magdalene was from this city.

Mount Tabor

Tradition has placed the Transfiguration of Jesus on this mountain.

Nain

A city in Galilee where Jesus raised to life a widow's only son.

Nazareth

A town in Galilee, where Jesus spent his early life and the site of the annunciation of Gabriel to Mary.

Sea of Galilee

A lake which formed the eastern boundary of Galilee, also called the Lake of Gennesareth and the Sea of Tiberias.

Tiberias

A city in Galilee on the left bank of the Sea of Galilee.

Samaria

Capital of the kingdom of Israel, founded by Omri in 885 B.C. and destroyed by Sargon in 721 B.C.

Sychar

Jesus conversed with the Samaritan woman in Jacob's well.

Mt. Gerizim

The center of Samaritan cult during the time of Jesus.

Judea

The most southern of the three districts of Palestine west of Jordan, where Jesus was born and died.

Arimathea

The native city of Joseph who provided the sepulcher to bury the body of Jesus.

Bethany

A village where Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus lived, located about two miles from Jerusalem.

Bethlehem

A little town located in Judea, five miles to the south of Jerusalem, the birthplace of David and Jesus.

Dead Sea

In the Bible, it is called the Salt Sea, East Sea, and Sea of Arabah; it has no outlet and is subject to intense evaporation.

Emmaus

A village situated about twenty miles from Jerusalem.

Gethsemane

Signifies 'oil press'; a plantation of olive trees opposite the temple of Jerusalem, scene of Christ's agony and betrayal (Mt. 26:36-56).

Golgotha

Aramaic word meaning 'skull place'; the name of a hill northwest of Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified (Mt. 27:33).

Jericho

City of Palestine known for Joshua's victory (Jos. 6:1-20) and where Jesus encountered Zaccheus (Lk. 19:1-20).

Jerusalem

Hebrew 'Yerushalaim', meaning vision of peace; conquered by David, it became the capital and religious center of Judaism.

Qumran

Inhabited by Essenes who preserved sacred texts; best known for the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

River Jordan

A 251-kilometre-long river in Palestine, flowing from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea; John the Baptist baptized Jesus here (Mt. 3:13-17).

Decapolis

A confederation of ten or more pagan cities east of the Jordan, where some of Jesus' followers were from (Mk. 5:20; 7:31).

Idumea

A district south and east of Judea occupied by descendants of the Edomites; part of the Roman Province of Judea.

Phoenicia

Region comprising Mount Lebanon and coastal areas; known for maritime activities and included in the Promised Land but never conquered (Jos. 13:4-6).

Caesarea

A port restored by Herod the Great, home of the Roman procurator of Judea and Philip (Acts 8:40; 10:1).

Philip's Tetrarchy

Territories given to Philip by Herod the Great; included Batanea, Trachonitis, and Auranitis until 34 CE.

Kidron

A torrent located east of Jerusalem, near Gethsemane.

Valley of Hinnom

A valley located to the south and west of Jerusalem.

Ephraim Gate

A gate in Jerusalem that opened on the highway to Jaffa, near the place of Crucifixion (Jn. 19:17-20; Heb. 13:12).

Herod the Great

A ruler associated with Idumea, known for his significant building projects and the expansion of the Second Temple.

Edomites

Descendants of Esau, known for their troubled relationship with Israel; occupied Idumea after migrating west.

Bozrah

Capital of the Edomites before they migrated to Idumea.

Malachi 1:1-4

Prophetic scripture referring to the destruction of the land occupied by the Edomites.

Canaanite Woman

A woman from Phoenicia whose daughter was healed by Jesus (Mt. 15:21-22; Lk. 10:13-14).

Herodian Tetrarchy

The division of Herod the Great's kingdom among his sons after his death in 4 BCE.

Roman Province of Judea

Formed in 6 CE by combining Judea proper, Samaria, and Idumea.

Salome I

Herod's sister who ruled a toparchy of Jamnia until her death in 10 CE.

Herod Antipas

Ruled Galilee and Perea until 39 CE as part of the Herodian Tetrarchy.

Trachonitis

A territory ruled by Philip the Tetrarch until 34 CE.

Auranitis

Another territory ruled by Philip the Tetrarch until 34 CE.

Jerusalem's Walls

The city was divided within its walls, looking down into deep ravines.