Perea is a region east of the Jordan River that is mentioned several times in the Bible. Here is an overview of the significance of Perea in the biblical narrative:
Location and Geography of Perea
Perea refers to the territory located east of the Jordan River, opposite the region of Judea. It covered parts of what are now the modern day countries of Jordan and Israel. Major cities in Perea included Pella, Gerasa, Philadelphia, and Gadara. The land was fertile and suitable for agriculture and grazing. The climate was generally more tropical than the west side of the Jordan.
Biblically, Perea was bounded by the Jordan River on the west, the Sea of Galilee and the Yarmuk River on the north, the territory of the Decapolis on the east, and the Arnon River on the south. It was the part of the Promised Land allotted to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh when the Israelites first entered Canaan under Joshua (Numbers 32, Joshua 13:8-33).
Perea in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, Perea was part of the tribal territories assigned to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh. It was conquered from the Amorites under Moses and Joshua:
“So Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and he settled in it…And the territory of the Gadites was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites, to Aroer, which is east of Rabbah, and from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir” (Numbers 32:39-42 ESV).
“So Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the Gadites, by their clans…And their territory was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites, to Aroer, which is east of Rabbah, and from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir” (Joshua 13:24-26 ESV).
Though allotted to Israelite tribes, Perea often came under foreign domination or influence throughout Old Testament history. Parts were controlled at times by the Ammonites, Moabites and Arameans. Yet Perea remained an important territorial possession for Israel.
Perea in the New Testament
By New Testament times, Perea was part of the Roman province of Judea. The Jewish historian Josephus refers to Perea as the territory across the Jordan from Jericho.
Perea features prominently in accounts of Jesus’ later Judean ministry. The Gospel of John reports that Jesus withdrew across the Jordan to stay in Perea after an attempt to stone him in Judea:
“He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him” (John 10:40-41 ESV).
It was while ministering in Perea that Jesus answered a question about divorce (Mark 10:1-12). He also taught the crowds gathered there through parables (Luke 18-19). As Jesus traveled to Jerusalem before his final Passover, he passed along the border between Samaria and Galilee on his way through Perea (Luke 17:11).
Though brief, the biblical material gives the impression of Perea as an important outlying district. Jesus was able to withdraw there for safety at one point. He also ministered extensively in the region, continuing his proclamation of the kingdom even as hostility mounted against him in Jerusalem and Judea proper.
Cities and Towns of Perea
Several important cities and towns located in Perea receive mention in the biblical accounts:
– **Pella** – One of the main cities of Perea. Jesus likely passed through or near Pella as he traveled down from Galilee through Perea on his final journey to Jerusalem (Luke 17:11). Pella had a predominantly Jewish population in the 1st century AD. Christians later fled there as a safe haven during the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
– **Bethany across the Jordan** – This Bethany was located east of the Jordan River to distinguish it from the Bethany near Jerusalem where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived (John 1:28). Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River near here by John the Baptist at the start of his ministry.
– **Gerasa** – A prominent Hellenistic city in Jesus’ day that was later known as Jerash. Jesus may have traveled near Gerasa during his Perean ministry. Excavations at Jerash reveal grand Roman ruins, including temples, theaters, baths and colonnaded streets.
– **Pella** – An ancient town north of Jerash that served as the first refuge for Jerusalem Christians fleeing the Roman invasion in 66-70 AD. Located in the foothills of Gilead, Pella had a large Jewish population. Jesus likely passed through the Pella region.
– **Philadelphia** – A city later known as Amman, the modern capital of Jordan. Philadelphia was located along ancient trade routes, facilitating Roman commerce and travel in the 1st century AD. Jesus probably journeyed past Philadelphia as he went through Perea.
Though peripheral to Jerusalem and Judea, Perea enabled Jesus to continue his ministry away from growing hostility. The cities he visited enriched contact with diverse populations in fulfillment of his mission. Even “out of the way” Perea had a part in God’s redemptive plan.
Ministry and Teachings of Jesus in Perea
The Gospels record several important episodes that took place while Jesus ministered in the region of Perea:
**Healing of Ten Lepers**
Only Luke tells of Jesus healing 10 lepers as he passed along the border between Samaria and Galilee on his way to Jerusalem through Perea:
“On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us'” (Luke 17:11-13 ESV).
This account shows Jesus extending compassion beyond the Jews to Samaritans. The healing of these desperate outcasts pictues the inclusive nature of Christ’s kingdom.
**Teaching on Divorce**
It was during his Perean ministry that Jesus gave important teachings on divorce in response to questions from the Pharisees:
“And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female'” (Mark 10:2-6 ESV).
Jesus pointed back to God’s creational intent for marriage in correcting the Pharisees’ lenient views on divorce. His teaching re-established the permanence of marriage.
**Parable of the Persistent Widow**
While teaching in Perea, Jesus told a parable contrasting an unjust judge with God’s justice and faithfulness:
“In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'” (Luke 18:2-5 ESV).
Though set in a fictional town, Jesus used this parable to encourage persistence in prayer among his Perean listeners. God is not like the unjust judge, but will surely respond justly to those who keep praying to him.
**Encounter with Rich Young Ruler**
On his journey from Perea to Jerusalem, Jesus had a pivotal encounter with a rich young ruler that tested the man’s commitment to following him:
“And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone'” (Mark 10:17-18 ESV).
Though brief, Jesus’ time in Perea provided critical opportunities for ministry that paved the way for his climatic week in Jerusalem.
Strategic Importance of Perea
In addition to Jesus’ ministry activities there, Perea held strategic significance in several respects:
– It enabled Jesus to continue preaching when opposition became dangerous in Judea, providing a safer region across the Jordan.
– Travel along Perea’s roads was an important route from Galilee to Jerusalem, especially for Jews wanting to avoid Samaria. Jesus likely journeyed this way.
– Perea had a sizable Jewish population descended from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh. Jesus reached out to them.
– The major cities of Perea allowed Jesus to interact with Greco-Roman culture and ideas. This prepared him for ministry in Jerusalem.
– Withdrawal to Perea afforded rest and protection at a critical juncture as Jesus made his final trip to Jerusalem.
Perea’s location “across the other side” did not place it out of reach of Jesus’ ministry. He fulfilled his mission wherever he went, even in that remote region. God used Perea’s strategic geography to advance the gospel mission.
Contrast Between Perea and Judea/Jerusalem
Comparing Perea with Judea and Jerusalem reveals some important contrasts:
– Perea provided refuge for Jesus when Judea grew dangerous. He withdrew across the Jordan River to stay in Perea.
– Judea was the center of religious power and authority in Israel, whereas Perea was an outlying district far from the Temple.
– Perea allowed Jesus to continue preaching the kingdom, while opposition was mounting against him in Jerusalem and Judea.
– The Jewish establishment had less influence and control in Perea compared to Judea.
– Jesus was able to move freely in Perea versus the scrutiny he faced in Judea.
– Perea offered more interaction with Gentiles, with cities like Gerasa and Philadelphia influencing the region.
– Travel through Perea involved passing through areas of Samaria and Galilee as well.
The contrast highlights how God used even peripheral regions like Perea to advance his purposes. Jesus found both refuge and ministry opportunities there away from escalating conflict in Judea.
Transition Between Galilee and Judea/Jerusalem
Perea served an important transitional purpose between Jesus’ Galilean ministry and his final ministry in Judea and Jerusalem:
– Travel through Perea connected Galilee in the north with Jerusalem to the south. Jesus passed this way on his final journey to Jerusalem.
– Leaving Galilee for Judea, Perea marked the beginning of an important shift in focus during Jesus’ ministry.
– Jesus used the overland route through Perea to avoid passing through Samaria on his way to Jerusalem.
– The biblical accounts present Perea as a place of “in-betweeness” as Jesus moved from the familiarity of Galilee to the hostility awaiting him in Jerusalem.
– Perea provided crucial opportunities for ministry as Jesus made this pivotal transition in the focus of his work.
– Though an outlying area, Perea enabled Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom to continue even as opposition mounted in Jerusalem.
In God’s providence, Perea strategically bridged the northern and southern phases of Jesus’ ministry, facilitating this significant transition.
Relationship to Areas of Samaria and Decapolis
Perea’s proximity to Samaria and the Decapolis also flavored its distinctiveness:
– Traveling south through Perea, Jesus passed along the border between Samaria and Galilee on his final journey to Jerusalem (Luke 17:11).
– Ministry in Perea provided contact with Samaritans, as seen in Jesus’ healing of the 10 lepers (Luke 17:11-16).
– Cities like Gerasa and Philadelphia in northern Perea were part of the Decapolis, a league of predominantly Gentile cities with Greek cultural influence.
– The Decapolis region began just east of Perea across the Jordan; interaction occurred between Perea and this area.
– Perea afforded Jesus ministry opportunities with diverse groups of Jews, Samaritans and Gentiles.
Perea’s location at the intersection of Judea, Samaria, Galilee and the Decapolis enhanced its strategic value in God’s plan. Jesus crossed conventional boundaries in ministering there.
Role of John the Baptist and Baptism Site “Bethany beyond the Jordan”
Finally, Perea figured prominently at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry through the preparatory work of John the Baptist:
– John carried out his ministry of baptism at Bethany beyond the Jordan in Perea (John 1:28). This was likely near the traditional site where the Israelites first entered Canaan.
– Jesus traveled to Bethany beyond the Jordan to be baptized by John, marking the launch of his public messianic ministry (Matthew 3:13-17).
– John bore witness to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world after his baptism (John 1:29-34).
– Jesus likely traveled back through Perea when he went to where John was baptizing after John’s arrest (John 10:40).
John’s pioneering ministry in Perea, especially where Jesus was baptized, gives the region a connection with the earliest beginnings of the gospel story.
Conclusion
While often overlooked, the region of Perea played a quietly strategic role in the biblical accounts of Jesus’ ministry. Its geography facilitated Jesus’ movement from Galilee to Jerusalem. Key events and teachings took place while Jesus ministered there. Perea provided refuge at a dangerous moment as opposition intensified. And it was linked with the inauguration of Jesus’ public ministry through the baptism he received from John. Considering Perea sheds further light on the careful, far-seeing path Jesus followed in fulfilling his messianic mission. Even this seemingly marginal area was woven into God’s sovereign purposes.