King James Bible Dictionary

After the Captivity this name was applied to the whole of the country west of the Jordan (Haggai 1:1, 14; 2:2). But under the Romans, in the time of Christ, it denoted the southernmost of the three divisions of Palestine (Matthew 2:1, 5; 3:1; 4:25), although it was also sometimes used for Palestine 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.

1. Called also Judah and Judaea

The southern division of Palestine, extending from the Jordan and Dead Sea to the Mediterranean, and from Shiloh on the north to the wilderness on the south
Matthew 4:25; Luke 5:17; John 4:47; John 4:54

Applies to all Palestine
Luke 1:5

Applies to the territory east of Jordan
Matthew 19:1; Mark 10:1; Luke 23:5

2. Wilderness of

Called Beth-Arabah
Joshua 15:6; Joshua 15:61

Assigned to Benjamin
Joshua 18:22

John the Baptist preaches in
Matthew 3:1; Luke 3:3