Part 1 (2/2)
[Ill.u.s.tration: SEA OF GALILEE _Old Engraving_ Page 21]
There were also Greeks who had sought new homes far from their native land. Many Arabians came from the deserts on swift horses, in roving bands in search of plunder. They wore brightly-colored dresses, and flas.h.i.+ng swords and lances, carrying terror wherever they went. Egyptian travelers came with camels loaded with spices and balm. The bazaars were crowded with merchandise from India, Persia and Arabia. Long caravans from Damascus pa.s.sed through Galilee, with goods for the markets of Tiberius on Lake Gennesaret, and the more distant cities of Jerusalem, Caesarea and Alexandria.
The gem of Galilee and of Palestine itself, is the Lake of Gennesaret, or the Sea of Tiberius. Its length is twelve and three-fourths miles; its greatest width, seven and one-fourth; its greatest depth, one hundred and sixty feet. On the west is the beautiful Plain of Galilee.
On the east are rounded hills; and rugged mountains which rise nine hundred feet above the waters, with gra.s.sy slopes, and rocky cliffs barren and desolate. Bowers of olive and oleander deck the base of the hills whose sides yield abundant harvest. Around the lake is a level white beach of smooth sand. Gennesaret has been fittingly compared to a sapphire set in diamonds; and to a mirror set in a frame of richness and beauty.
”He hath made everything beautiful,” says Solomon concerning G.o.d. It is a well-known saying of Jewish writers, ”Of all the seven seas G.o.d created, He made choice of none but the Lake of Gennesaret.” It was called the ”beloved of G.o.d above all the waters of Canaan.”
The writer of this volume gratefully recalls blessed memories of Gennesaret, wis.h.i.+ng his young friends could view with their own eyes those scenes which he asks them to behold through his own. Then could they join him in singing with the saintly McCheyne,
”How pleasant to me thy deep blue wave, O Sea of Galilee!
For the glorious One who came to save, Hath often stood by thee.
”O Saviour, gone to G.o.d's right hand, Yet the same Saviour still, Graved on Thy heart is this lovely strand, And every fragrant hill.”
At the period of which we speak the region was full of people. Nine large towns, each containing fifteen thousand inhabitants, bordered on the lake. Numerous populous villages lined the sh.o.r.es, or nestled in the neighboring valleys, or were perched on the hilltops. Fishermen's huts--which were mere stone sheds--fringed the lake. They stood in every rift of rock, and on every knoll, with their little cornfields and vine ledges extending to the sandy beach.
[Ill.u.s.tration: SITE OF BETHSAIDA _From Photograph_ Page 23]
On the seash.o.r.e, among the chief buildings, were palaces for Roman princes, and quarters for Roman soldiers. The waters were covered with boats for pleasure, merchandise and fis.h.i.+ng. Four thousand floated at one time on the narrow lake. Vast quant.i.ties of fish were caught in the waters, supplying not only the people of Galilee, but the populous city of Jerusalem, especially when crowded with pilgrims; and were even sent to distant ports of the Mediterranean. We shall see John's interest in such labors.
On the north-western sh.o.r.e of Gennesaret is a beautiful bay sheltered by hills and projecting cliffs. The sight is such as would be a fisherman's delight--a little haven from storm, with a broad beach of sand on which to moor his boats. There is no place like it in the region of Galilee.
Close to the water's edge, it is supposed, was the town of Bethsaida, probably meaning House of Fish.
_CHAPTER II_
_Five Boys of Bethsaida--Rambles About Home_
”Walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother.”--_Matt._ iv. 18.
”And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother.”--_v._ 21.
”Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.”--_John_ i. 44.
Bethsaida was honored as being the home of five of the Apostles of Jesus. We know nothing definitely concerning them until their manhood.
We wish we knew of their childhood. It is only because of their relation to Jesus that they have been remembered. Had it not been for this they would, like many other boys of Galilee, have lived on the sh.o.r.es of Gennesaret, fished in its waters, died, and been forgotten. These five Bethsaidan boys were two pairs of brothers and a friend. The names of one pair were Andrew and Peter. They were the sons of Jonas, a fisherman. As they grew up they were engaged with him in casting the net and gathering fish, by day or by night, and thus securing a livelihood without thought of change of occupation. It was a Jewish custom for boys to learn a trade or business, which was generally that of their fathers.
The names of the other pair of brothers were James and John. Their father was named Zebedee. He also was a fisherman having so much prosperity in his business that he employed servants to help him.
Judging by what we know of the family they must have been highly respected by the people among whom they lived.
We do not know the exact date of John's birth. He was probably younger than James, and several years younger than Peter.
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