Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-06-15
VOL. 5.--NO. AZ.
THE SEA OF aAL1LEE.


This lake is also known in the gospels as the
sea of Tiberias, and Gennesareth; and In the
Old Testament as the sea Of Chinnereth. III Is
about thirteen miles in length, and six In
breadth; and is formed by the Jordon, which
traverses it from north to south, and then flows
on to the Dead sea, sixty miles south.
No other sheet of water in the world is en-
deared to the Christian by so many pleasing
associations. Some ten miles to the west lay
Nazareth, the home of Christ during his child
hood and youth. On its western shore lay Ca
pernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida of Galiec,
where ssmost of his mighty works were done;'
while the other Bethsaida was but few miles
north of its northeastern shore. Around this
lake large part of the Saviour's public life
was spent. More than one blind man there
experienced his miraculous power, and opened
his eyes to behold first of all his benefactor's
face, and then the blue waters of his charm
ing lake. Here the majority OF his disciples
liyed and by its side, while .tsitting at the re-
ceipt Of custom, - or ssmending their nets,
they were called to become ssfshers of men,"
1t was on these waters, sitting in Simon Pc
ter's boat, that Christ preached to multitude
on shore. Upon one of the neighboring hills
he taught many thousands at once, healed
their diseases, and fed them all with five loaves
and two fishes. Here too, on two occasions
at the commencement Of his ministry and at
ter his resurrection-his command filled tho
nets of the apostles with unprecedented
draughts of fishes. Somewhere on the south
east side Of the same sea is the sssteep place"
down which the frightened Gardarenes saw
their whole herd of swine plunge, and perish
in the waters The Saviour often crossed this
lake in his labours of love and twice he had
occasion to allay the fears of his disciples by
calming the storm tossed waves once waking
from his quiet sleep in the hinder part of the
boat, to chide them for their lack of faith;
and once coming out to them by walking ON
the sea, in the fourth watch of the night,
they were sstoiling in rowing.''
Thus the whole region is rendered sacred
by incidents in the life Of our Lord. The
traveller irresistibly feels that His footsteps
and smiles have for ever hallowed these hills,
that his voice yet echoes from these shores
and his ssPeace, be still,'' yet rests on these
pure and peaceful waters. In many respects,
however, great change has taken place
since the time of Christ. Then the shores
were filled by a teeming population towns
and villages crowded the banks, and boats
swarmed on the waters. Now the only re-
naming town is Tiberias, city in ruins, con-
tanning about 1900 inhabitants, and wretched
and filthy to the last degree. It is common
saying, sthe king of the heas holds his court
at Tiberias." Instead of large feet of fish,
ing boats, only one can now be- found on its
waters. The round hills that come boldly
down to the sea now bare of trees and
though covered with delightful verdure af-
thr the wintry rains, become parched and des-
Olate under the summer sun. Yet these hills
are the same that our Saviour himself beheld;
the main features of the scene are unchanged.
The lake lies embosomed in a deep basin,
more than three hundred feet below the level
of the Mediterranean, and enclosed on all
sides, except near the inlet and outlet of the
Jordan, by hills that rise steeply hundreds of
feet in height; while in the background on
the east side are mountains over a thousand
feet high. The range of heights stretching
around the sea itself is broken by occasional
shady rayines and water courses; and here and
there is separated from the sea by level and
exceedingly fertile plain. In one of these, Ca
pcrnaum used to stand, but it has wholly
disappeared. Far away in the north Mount
Hermon lifts its snow-capped crown to. the
sky, with the majesty OF summit that has
looked down on the coming and going Of
hundred generations.
The region of this sea bears marks of vol
canic action, and hot springs still exist on tho
shore south OF Tiberias. The waters still
swarm with fishes, as in the days of the apos-
tolic fishermen. The whole scene is marked
by grand but serene beauty, and the Chris
tian visitor reluctantly tears himself away
from it. A recent American traveller, while
out upon the sea, encountered tempest like
those described in the gospels sudden, swift,
and violent, it swept down on the,sea from the
upper hills, and threw it into commotion as in
moment. He was unable to make head
against 1t, and was driven over TO s:the coast
Of the Gardarenes." The same traveller
bathed several times in its clear and sweet
waters, and was reminded of the words of an
old Scotch friend of his boyhood, who said to
him: ssWhen ye graw up to be mon, may
hap ye'll go wanderin' up aud doom the hills
of the warld. But doan ye forget that gin
ye're thursty, there's the sea o. Galiiee; and
gin ye're hungry, there's the ioaves that fed
feeve thoosand there by the sea; and when
ye get tired and tired out, and want to lay
your head doom on any stoun and rest it
but the stouns are a'hard-there's Heem that
said on the same sea, ssCume unto me, all We
that labor and are heevy-laden, and L will
geeve ye rest"