Lesson Six: Review of the Provinces of Palestine
6.1 Take another look at the map of the Roman Empire. You will see the land of Palestine, (outlined in green), at the far eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea.
6.2 Remember that it was about 1,500 miles from Jerusalem to Rome, (if you traveled by ship).
6.3 Palestine was one of the countries that had been conquered by Rome. It was part of the Roman Empire.
6.4 Now look at the map of Palestine.
Imagine that you are flying high above the land of Palestine. Can you see the coastline? Locate the Jordan River. The land of Palestine is divided in half by the Jordan River which runs from north to south. At the north end of the river are two small lakes, and the "Sea of Galilee". At the south end of the Jordan River you can see the "Dead Sea". The "Sea of Galilee", and the "Dead Sea" are both lakes, not open seas like the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea is 3,000 miles long. The "Sea of Galilee" is only 12 ½ miles long, and 7 ½ miles wide.
6.5 Now let's review the six parts of Jesus' life and their associated places
Infancy...........................................Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth
Youth.............................................Temple in Jerusalem
Year of Preparation........................Province of Judea, and Nazareth
Year of Popularity..........................Province of Galilee
Year of Passion..............................Province of Perea, and Jerusalem
Resurrected Life.............................All the World6.6 Find Bethlehem on the map. What province is it in?
6.7 Where is Nazareth. What province?
6.8 What province is Jerusalem in?
6.9 Where is Capernaum? Is it on the shore of the "Sea of Galilee"? What province?
6.10 The land of Palestine was divided into six provinces. Can you name all six? They are:
Galilee, Iturea/Traconitus, Samaria, Decapolis, Judea, and Perea.
Find them on the map.
6.11 Jewish people lived in all of the provinces of Palestine except for one, the province of Samaria. Who lived there?
6.12 A "mixed" people called the "Samaritans" lived in the province of Samaria. They were descended from the people of Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, Babylon, and Sepharvaim, and also from the few Israelites left in the land after the Assyrians had defeated them and carried them away captive. II Kings 17:24 These people were called "Samaritans" because their capital city was Samaria. The Samaritans and the Jews hated each other, and had no dealings with each other. For example, most Jews traveling from Galilee to Judea would cross the Jordan River and continue their journey southward through the provinces of Decapolis and Perea rather than travel through the province of Samaria.
6.11 John the Baptist had an itinerant ministry. This means he traveled from place to place. In John 1:28 we find John the Baptist at the beginning of his ministry baptizing close to the city of Bethabara, on the north end of the Dead Sea. Bethabara was also known as "Bethany beyond the Jordan." Jesus was probably baptized close to there. In John 3:23 the Bible tells us that John the Baptist was baptizing near a town called "Salim". Where is it? John was not baptizing in Salim, but near it at a place called "Aenon".
6.12 Instead of baptizing in Salim, John the Baptist was probably baptizing people on the other side of the Jordan River in the province of Perea.
6.13 Why would John choose this location? Look on the map again. Is Salim near the center of the land of Palestine? Does it make sense that John was baptizing there? Another reason John was baptizing near Salim is because there was a lot of water there.
6.14 Where was Jesus born?
6.15 Where did He grow up?
6.16 Where did Jesus go to be baptized of John the Baptist? What province was John the Baptist in then?
6.17 Caesar Augustus was the Emperor of the Roman Empire when Jesus was born.
6.18 Caesar Augustus died in 14 AD at the age of 77. His son Tiberius became the new Caesar at that time. Augustus had ruled for 57 years. He had been the first Emperor.
6.19 Herod the Great was the king of Palestine when Jesus was born. But Herod the Great died in 4 BC. After his death three of his sons took his place. Herod Phillip ruled Iturea/Traconitus. Herod the Tetrarch ruled Galilee and Perea. And Herod Archelaus ruled Samaria and Judea. But Archelaus was not a very good leader. After he had ruled for ten years, Caesar Augustus removed him. After that Judea was ruled by Roman military governors, not kings. The governors were called "procurators". Coponius was the first governor. After him came Marcus Ambivulus, then Annius Rufus, then Valerius Gratus, and finally, Pontius Pilate.
6.20 In our next lesson we will use the map to study the places Jesus went to during his three years of public ministry. Lesson Seven will be our last review lesson. In Lesson Eight we will take a close look at the ministry of John the Baptist.
Discussion Question: Why is it important to study the maps of where Jesus lived?
Memory Verse:
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. Isaiah 9:6-7