judea Summary and Overview

After the Captivity this name was applied to the whole of the country west of the Jordan (Hag. 1:1, 14; 2:2). But under the Romans, in the time of Christ, it denoted the southernmost of the three divisions of Israel (Matt. 2:1, 5; 3:1; 4:25), although it was also sometimes used for Israel generally (Acts 28:21). The province of Judea, as distinguished from Galilee and Samaria, included the territories of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Dan, Simeon, and part of Ephraim. Under the Romans it was a part of the province of Syria, and was governed by a procurator.

THE PROVINCE OF JUDE'A a name applied to that part of Canaan occupied by those who returned after the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. The word first occurs Dan 5:13 (A.V. "Jewry"), and the first mention of the "province of Judaea" is in Ezr 5:8; it is alluded to in Neh 11:3 (A.V. "Judah"); in the Apocrypha the word "province" is dropped, and throughout it and in the N.T. the expressions are the "land of Judaea" and "Judaea." In a wider and more improper sense "Judaea" was sometimes applied to the whole country of the Canaanites, its ancient inhabitants, and even in the Gospels we read of the coasts of Judaea "beyond Jordan." Matt 19:1; Mark 10:1. Judaea was strictly the third district, west of the Jordan, and south of Samaria. It was made a portion of the Roman province of Syria after Archelaus was deposed, A.D. 6, and was governed by a procurator, who was subject to the governor of Syria. See Canaan, Palestine, and Judah.

First so-called as a "province" of Persia (<270513> Daniel 5:13; <150508> Ezra 5:8; Nehemiah 11:3; <170809> Esther 8:9). On the return from Babylon the Jews, besides Judah, included large portions of Benjamin, Levi, Ephraim, and Manasseh (<150105> Ezra 1:5; 10:5-9; <161104> Nehemiah 11:4-36; <130903> 1 Chronicles 9:3; "Israel," <150270> Ezra 2:70,59; 3:1; 10:5; <160773> Nehemiah 7:73), and many whose pedigree could not be found. The number twelve was retained in the sin offerings, as though all the tribes were represented (<150617> Ezra 6:17; 8:35). The amalgamation began when Jeroboam's idolatry drove the godly of northern Israel to Judah, again it took place under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 30,31). Anna was of Asher (<420236> Luke 2:36); Paul of Benjamin (<451101> Romans 11:1); Barnabas of Levi (<440436> Acts 4:36). The "twelve tribes" appear <442607> Acts 26:7; <590101> James 1:1. <161103> Judea is strictly the region W. of Jordan, S. of Samaria (though "beyond Jordan" is vaguely included in it <411001> Mark 10:1, and Galilee <422305> Luke 23:5). The village Anuath marked its northern boundary (Josephus, B. J., iii. 3, section 5), Jardan its southern boundary: comprising the territory of Judah, Dan,Simeon, and Benjamin, 100 miles long, 60 broad. Upon the deposition of the ethnarch Archelaus, A.D. 6, Judaea was ruled by a procurator subject to the governor of Syria; he resided at Caesarea on the coast. Judea was little frequented by our Lord, except Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Bethany (compare <430701> John 7:1 for the reason in part). Jeremiah's prophecy (<243422> Jeremiah 34:22) is fulfilled; "the cities of Judaea" are "a desolation without inhabitant," the vine-clad terraces and grainfields have only left their traces behind, ruins alone abound, and the scenery has but little beauty.