Galilee
Galilee, meaning circuit, is an area in northern Israel.
Solomon rewarded Hiram for certain services rendered
him by the gift of an upland plain among the mountains of
Naphtali[?]. Hiram was dissatisfied with the gift, and called it
"the land of Cabul". The Jews called it Galil.
Galilee embraces more than one-third of Israel, extending
"from Dan on the north, at the base of Mount Hermon[?], to the
ridges of Carmel and Gilboa on the south, and from the Jordan
valley on the east away across the splendid plains of Jezreel
and Acre to the
shores of the Mediterranean on the west."
In Roman times, Palestine was divided into three provinces, Judea, Samaria, and
Galilee, which comprehended the whole northern section of the
country, and was the largest of the three.
It was the scene of some of the most memorable events of
Jewish history. Galilee also was the home of Jesus during at
least thirty years of his life.
The first three Gospels of the New Testament are
chiefly taken up with Jesus' public ministry in this
province.
See also: Sea of Tiberias
Initial text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897 -- Please update as needed