The Sea of Galilee is referred to in the Hebrew Bible as the Sea of Chinnereth. The word "chinnereth" means "lyre[-shaped]" which accurately describes the shape of the lake. The Hebrew Bible rarely refers to the lake and the references given relate to the territory conquered by Joshua (Num. 34:11, Josh. 12:3, 13:27). The Jordan River enters at the north end of the lake and exits at the south end heading toward the Dead Sea.
The lake is 12 1/2 miles from north to south and 7 miles wide (west to east) at its widest point. The maximum depth of the lake is 150 feet. The surface of the lake is 700 feet below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea just 30 miles to the west thus making the Sea of Galilee the lowest freshwater lake in the world. The hills of Galilee to the west of the sea reach a height of 1,500 feet above sea level and the hills of Gilead to the east reach heights of 3,300 feet above sea level. Its location between the two ranges of hills makes the lake subject to violent storms which come up suddenly and usually last only a short time.
During the 1st century C.E. the Sea of Galilee was an important commercial location. The waters were fresh, the water temperature was pleasant, the beaches were sandy, and the lake was filled with fish. The fishing industry flourished there. The area generated industry and served as a border between Jewish and non-Jewish areas so a variety of towns existed on both the west and east sides of the lake. The interaction of these two groups made the area quite cosmopolitan and many inscriptions in Greek have been discovered.
The Sea of Galilee continues to be a beautiful, fertile area today.
Photographs by Bob Dunston