IV. GENNESARETH, LAKE or SEA OF.—This is only another name of the preceding ; which is called besides, in the N. T., the sea of Galilee' (Matt. iv. IS), the sea of Tiberias' (John xxi. 1), and the sea' or lake of Gennesareth' (Matt. xiv. 34 ; Mark vi. 53 ; Luke v. 17) ; which last is but a variation of the Hebrew name.
This lake lies very deep, among fruitful hills and mountains, from which, in the rainy season, many rivulets descend. The Jordan enters it on the north, and quits it on the south ; and it is said that the river passes through it without the waters mingling. Its extent has been greatly over-rated : Robinson considers that its length, in a straight line, does not exceed eleven or twelve geographical miles, and that its breadth is from five to six miles. From numerous indications it is inferred that the bed of this lake was formed by some ancient volcanic eruption, which history has not recorded : the waters are very clear and sweet, and contain various kinds of excellent fish in great abundance. It will be remembered that several
of the apostles were fishermen of this lake, and that it was also the scene of several transactions in the life of Christ : it is thus frequently mentioned in the N. T., but very rarely in the Old. The borders of the lake were in the time of Christ well peopled, being covered with numerous towns and villages ; but now they are almost desolate, and the fish and water-fowl are but little disturbed.
The best descriptions of the lake of Tiberias are those of Burckhardt (Syria, p. 332), Buckingham (Palestine, ch. xxvi.), Irby and Mangles (p. 295), Jowett (pp. 172-176), Hardy (pp. 237-241), Elliott (ii. 342-350), Schubert (iii. 231-24o), Robinson (ii. 372-4o2), Olin (iii. 253, 261-265), Lord Nugent (Lana's, Classical and S'acred, ii. 209).—J. K.