? as you read the descriptions given below Valley west of Mount Hermon The Jordan River originates here, north of the Sea of Galilee Between the Lebanon and Hermon ranges, the rift valley is very prominent Sea of Galilee The sea is 685 feet below the level of the Great Sea This beautiful area was inhabited by many people in New Testament times Jordan River The river is entirely below sea level, from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea The hot and humid climate of this valley discouraged the building of cities Jericho was an exception (see Map F) Salt Sea (Dead Sea) This is 1,286 feet below sea level What main river flows into it? The sea has no outlet, hence its dense and rich mineral content A few cities were located on its shores in Old Testament times Al Ghor (Araba) A hot, dry valley No cities were located here Gulf of Aqaba Solomon built a fleet of ships at the north end of this gulf (1 Kings 9:26) The rugged hills rise sharply from the low rift valley to the high plateau Few cities were located here TRANS-JORDAN HILLS From the fertile tableland of the north to the semidesert south, this plateau was the scene of relatively little New Testament history Its rolling land was used mostly for grazing livestock Jesus ministered at PLATEAU times in the cities of Decapolis and Perea (see Map F, page 65) As you proceed with your survey of the New Testament, especially the four gospels and Acts, visualize the topography that you have just studied For example, when you read that “a certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho” (Luke 10:30), you should be able to visualize a descending road, one moving down off the ridge C WEATHER AND CLIMATE Palestine is in the same latitudes as the southern United States Its climate is controlled generally by the prevailing westerly winds from the Mediterranean Sea However, because of the diversity of topography, the climate varies considerably from place to place Overall, there are two seasons: warm, dry summers, and cool, wet winters The rainy season lasts from November to March, the rains being unusually heavy at the beginning and end of the season (from which come the terms “early” and “latter” rains).32 Average temperature ranges for Jerusalem, representing recent records, are forty-one to fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit in January and sixty-five to eighty-five degrees in August The moderating effect is caused by the more constant temperatures of the Mediterranean Sea The climate of Galilee, where Jesus lived most of His life and accomplished most of His public ministry, was more pleasant in ... PLATEAU times in the cities of Decapolis and Perea (see Map F, page 65) As you proceed with your survey of the New Testament, especially the four gospels and Acts, visualize the topography that... moving down off the ridge C WEATHER AND CLIMATE Palestine is in the same latitudes as the southern United States Its climate is controlled generally by the prevailing westerly winds from the Mediterranean... in August The moderating effect is caused by the more constant temperatures of the Mediterranean Sea The climate of Galilee, where Jesus lived most of His life and accomplished most of His public