A more detailed investigation of individual cities and villages confirms the image of a predominantly Jewish Galilee. In this chapter, I will investigate the populations of specific Galilean communities from the Late Hellenistic period through the beginning of the second century CE to determine what evidence exists in each for Jews and non-Jews. My survey will include communities that are generally acknowledged to be significant in the Early Roman period, such as Sepphoris and Tiberias; settlements mentioned in the New Testament and in the writings of Josephus; and other sites that are well known or that have yielded significant archaeological data from the Hasmonean and Early Roman periods (see Map 1). For the most part, this chapter will consider sites in Galilee's interior. Some sites that are arguably within geographical Galilee (such as Scythopolis on the southeastern border and the remote Upper Galilean sites of Kedesh and Tel Anafa) were clearly outside of political Galilee in the New Testament period; they will be considered in the next chapter. The exceptions to this are Bethsaida and Beth Yeraḥ, included here because of their proximity to other lake-side sites.

The nature of our evidence

The literary sources

Josephus is by far the most helpful literary source for this issue. While one must read his writings with a skeptical awareness of his penchant for exaggeration, such caution is most warranted when he is discussing his own actions and motivations or those of his opponents and rivals.