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GREAT SEA

The geographic designation for the Mediterranean Sea, noted as the western boundary of the Promised Land (Num. 34:6-7; Ezek. 47:20). The location of the Great Sea (W of Israel) gave rise to Heb. yām, “west,” being used to mean “sea” (e.g., Deut. 11:24); this also holds true for Ugaritic and other Semitic languages. Because east was the main directional orientation of the Jews and other Semitic peoples, it was considered “up,” the direction of the abode of the divine. West was conversely considered “down,” the direction of Sheol, the place of the dead. The Jews thus viewed the Great Sea with a good deal of dread and suspicion, and in Hebrew thought there was a close connection between the sea (the deep) and Sheol (Gen. 1:2; Isa. 51:10; Jonah 2:5).

The Mediterranean or Great Sea spans more than 3400 km. (2100 mi.) west to east from Gibraltar to the coast of Lebanon and Israel. Separating the European and African continents north to south, the span varies from 160-965 km. (100-600 mi.). Until recent times sailing on the Great Sea was only safe during the late spring and summer when the wind patterns were fairly predictable. In the biblical era there would have been no sea travel from November to February because of the feared northeasterly winds. Many of the great nations around the Mediterranean basin were accomplished at sea travel; Israel, however, was not one of them. Israel lacked quality harborage, and Joppa (modern Tel Aviv), the only natural harbor on Israel’s coastline, was only marginally useful. Although Solomon built a merchant fleet at the Red Sea port of Ezion-geber, he had to hire Phoenician boatwrights and sailors (1 Kgs. 9:26-27).

In the OT various terms are used for the Great Sea, including simply “the sea” (Num. 13:29; Josh. 16:8), “the western sea” (Deut. 11:24; Zech. 14:8), “sea of Joppa” (Ezra 3:7), and “sea of the Philistines” (Exod. 23:31). The only mention in the OT of a substantial voyage on the Great Sea is that of Jonah, who intended to sail west from Joppa to Tarshish.

By the time of the NT Rome had mastered the Great Sea, and, except for the unpredictable winter weather, travel was reasonably safe. Merchant ships sailed with armed protection, and piracy was held in check. With Herod the Great’s construction of a harbor at Caesarea, there was increased, although still limited, sea-borne commerce through Israel. The most extensive discussion of events on the Great Sea in the NT are the travels of Paul as recorded in Acts (cf. 2 Cor. 11:25).

Bibliography. C. H. Gordon, “The Mediterranean Factor in the Old Testament,” VTSup 9 (1963): 19-31.

Dennis M. Swanson

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

GREAT SEA

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)