‘After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.'
‘After these things' is a vague introductory phrase. The sea of Galilee was on the River Jordan well to the north of the Dead Sea. In the Old Testament it was called the Sea of Chinnereth (e.g. Numbers 34:11) or Chinneroth (e.g. Joshua 12:3). The city of Tiberias was built on its Western shore so that it was also known as the Sea of Tiberias. The River Jordan, coming from its sources in the Mount Hermon area, flowed through it maintaining its freshness so that it was abundantly supplied with fish. It was 211 metres (700 feet) below sea level in the Jordan rift valley, and was surrounded by hills, and was thus subject to violent storms as the winds tore through the ravines. The Jordan and the Jordan Rift Valley were below sea level having no outlet to the sea, and the Jordan flowed into the Dead Sea, whose waters were then dispersed by evaporation in the hot climate, leaving behind a heavy salt content.
On the shores of the Sea of Galilee were towns like Capernaum and Bethsaida (the house of fishing) and there was almost continual settlement along its shores. It is probable that there were two Bethsaidas, as the name ‘Bethsaida of Galilee' (John 12:21) suggests a distinguishing identification from another of the same name. The other would be Bethsaida Julias, rebuilt by Philip the tetrarch on the Eastern shore, and named after Julia, the daughter of Augustus. This crossing was probably over the north east corner of the sea from Capernaum to Bethsaida Julias.