The Bible

 

Luke 2:1-7 : The Birth of Jesus (Gospel of Luke)

Study

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Commentary

 

Galilee

  
Jesus Preaching by the Sea of Galilee, by Gerbrand van den Eeckhout

When Galilee is mentioned in the Bible, it's referring to the "gentiles" and the spiritual states of people who were not in the Jewish church. Galilee was the northernmost province of Biblical Judea, a hilly area relatively remote from the center of Jewish culture in Jerusalem. It was considered a bit disreputable and not quite as wholly Jewish as the rest of the nation. This is reflected in the Bible when those observing the miracles of Jesus remark on the unlikely idea of the Messiah coming from Galilee. But the spiritual state of mind represented by Galilee was eager to hear the good news. Jesus did much of his work and teaching in Galilee, and it was his mostly-Galilean disciples who, after his death and resurrection, spread the Christian message throughout the world.