The Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee (Mt 4:18; 15:29) is mentioned in the Bible under three other names: "sea of Chinnereth" (Nu 34:11 Jos 12:3 13:27), the "lake of Gennesareth" (Luke 5:1), and the "sea of Tiberias" (John 6:1 21:1). The modern Arabs retain this name, Bahr Tabariyeh.

Capernaum (village of Nahum) lies on the north western shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was Jesus' favourite town (Matt 9:1) He chose Galilean fishermen, to be His first disciples. He called them to follow Him and be "fishers of men" (Matt 4:18,22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11). It was by this sea that he showed Himself to His disciples after His resurrection (John 21:1).


The Sea of Galilee. Two thousand years ago, our Lord Jesus ministered around the regions of the Sea of Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali -- to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles (or nations) -- the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:13-19).

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon

answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." (Luke 5:1-10).

One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."
They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.
(Luke 8:22-26 cf Matt 8:23-27; Mark 7:31-35).



The Sea of Chinnereth (Hebrew "Yam Kinneret") has a harp-like shape.
Source: Google Earth

There are 18 different species that are indigenous to the fresh water lake. They are classified into three main groups: sardines, biny and musht. The musht is actually the "tilapia," now commonly known as "the St. Peter's fish." The fish is a "mouth breeder" and protects its young by scooping them into her mouth when
danger lurks. It also picks up pebbles along the shores and sometimes coins in the pebbles in order to discourage the newly hatched young from re-entering her mouth. It has been suggested that this fish may have been the type that was caught with the shekel to pay the half-shekel tax for Peter and Jesus
(Mt. 17:24, 27).