Josephus told of 240 cities and villages, least of which around 15,000 residents. Altogether including the small towns, there were about 440. Josephus mentions Tiberias, Sepphoris, and Gabara, as the principal cities, though Capernaum and Nazareth are more frequently mentioned in the gospels. The area rivaled Egypt in grains and cereals, wine, oil and fruit. The setting of the lake and its shores were beautiful in those days, and here were situated the summer homes of wealthy Jews, Herodians, and Romans.
Wildflowers are loveliest in Galilee and grow beyond the shoreline of pebbles and shells.
Green hills would rise high around most of the lake. About the lake the land is so fruitful that all sorts of trees can grow upon it. Particularly lovely is that portion of the lakeside which is watered from a most fertile fountain, which the people of the country call Capharnaum. The lake abounded with freshwater fish. Palestine and especially Galilee was filled with the sick and suffering and with those pathological types, dumb, epileptics, and the semi-insane were numerous.