Resources of the Land
Fisheries
Fishing, which plays so large a part in the New Testament Gospels, was a natural food resource of Israel. Almost all the fishing was on the Sea of Galilee (also called Chinnereth or Chinneroth, the Lake of Gennesaret or the Sea of Tiberias). This inland freshwater lake is 12 miles long and 6 miles broad. The River Jordan flows through it. The fishing industry supported whole communities in the shore-line villages. It was here that Jesus chose His first disciples, from among the fishermen. Some of the fish was dried and kept for eating in the winter.
 Rather surprisingly, these were the only fisheries the Jewish people had. They never reallym controlled the Mediterranean coastlands, and they certainly never took to the sea, either as merchants or as deep sea fishermen. The fish sold in Jerusalem was supplied by non-Jewish merchants, for example from Tyre. Nothing can live in Israel's other great resrvoir of water the Dead Sea. So what might otherwise have been a larger and busier lake than Galilee had empty shores. The prophet Exekiel had a vision of fishermen lining the shores of the Dead Sea and spreading out their nets to dry. (Ezekiel 47:10). But this prophesy is symbolic of the peace and prosperity the Gospel of Christ brings.
Water in the Land
Minerals of the Land
Fisheries of the Land
|
 |
|
|
| A real history needs a real setting. The land and the people were real, and so, says the Bible, the coming of God to that paticular place was real, too. MORE ... |
|
| The Bible is a collection of ancient books. The cultures in which those books were written have perished long ago. Much is being found again. MORE . . . |
|
| How did these various books come to be written? Who wrote them? When? And how did they come together to make the book we now know as the Bible? MORE . . |
|
The Bible may be an ancient book but it is part of an unfinished story. The story begins, continues - and will end - with God's love. MORE . . .
|
|
| From earliest times, men and women have felt the need to worship, or pay respect to, someone or something greater than themselves. For the Israelites and their neighbors religion was an essential part of life.MORE . . . |
|
| It is hard enough to imagine life fifty years ago. How much more difficult, then, to get a true picture of home and family life in Bible times.MORE . . . |
|
| The story of ancient Israel, the major theme of the Old Testament begins with the Patriarchs and covers a people of promise but of disobedience as well. Great powers arose surrounding this tiny stretch of land...MORE . . . |
|
|
