Gennesaret in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
ge-nes'-a-ret he ge Gennesaret):
1. The Name:
The first syllable of the name Gennesaret is evidently the
Hebrew gan, "garden"; while the second may be a proper name.
Possibly, however, the name may represent the Hebrew ganne
sarim, "princely gardens." It is applied to a district on
the Northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee (Mt 14:34; Mk
6:53), now known as el-Ghuweir, "little Ghor." It curves
round from el-Mejdel in the South, to `Ain et-Tineh, or Khan
Minyeh, in the North, a distance of over 3 miles, with an
average breadth from the sea to the foot of the mountains of
about a mile. The soil is deep, rich loam, of amazing
fertility. In the South it is watered by the stream from
Wady el-Chamam, the gorge that opens to the West of el-
Mejdel.
2. Water:
The middle portion is supplied from `Ain el-Madawwerah, a
copious fountain near the western edge of the plain, round
which a wall has been built, to raise the level of the
water; and from the perennial stream, Wady er-Rubadiyeh,
which drives a mill before starting on its work of
irrigation. Farther North, Wady el-`Amud brings down much
water in the rainy season. The water from `Ain et-Tabgha was
brought round the promontory at `Ain et-Tineh by a conduit
cut in the rock. It was used to drive certain mills, and
also to refresh the neighboring land. This seems to be the
fountain called "Capharnaum" by Josephus (BJ, III, x, 8).
This writer extols the productiveness of the plain. He says
the "soil is so fruitful that all sorts of trees can grow
upon it."
3. Fertility:
The walnut, the palm, the olive and the fig, which usually
require diverse conditions, flourish together here. "One may
call this place the ambition of nature; .... it is a happy
contention of the seasons, as if each of them claimed this
country; for it not only nourishes different sorts of
autumnal fruit beyond men's expectation, but preserves them
a great while." He says that it supplies grapes and figs
through ten months of the year, and other fruits as they
ripen together throughout the year (same place) . The fruits
of Gennesaret had such high repute among the rabbis that
they were not allowed in Jerusalem at the time of the
feasts, lest any might be tempted to come merely for their
enjoyment (Neubauer, Geog. du Talmud, 45 f).
Centuries of neglect made a sad change in the plain. It was
largely overgrown with thorn-bushes, and it yielded one of
the finest crops of thistles in the country. Cultivation was
confined to the Southwest part; and the rest furnished
grazing ground for a tribe of nomads. Recently the German
Catholics made extensive purchases, including the village of
el-Mejdel. Considerable portions have also passed into the
hands of Jews. The land is almost entirely cleared, and it
rewards the toil of the husbandman with all its ancient
generosity.
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