Judea · OT & NT
Bethlehem
The 'house of bread' — birthplace of David and of Jesus Christ.
Today: Bayt Lahm, Palestinian West Bank
Bethlehem ('house of bread,' Hebrew Beth-lechem) lies about six miles south of Jerusalem in the hill country of Judah. In the patriarchal age it was called Ephrath, and Rachel was buried on its outskirts. It is the setting of the Book of Ruth, where Boaz's fields stood. From Bethlehem came David, the youngest son of Jesse, anointed king while still tending his father's sheep.
The prophet Micah foretold that Israel's eternal Ruler would come from this small Judean town (Micah 5:2). Seven hundred years later Mary and Joseph traveled there for the Roman census, and Jesus was born in a stable, laid in a manger, while shepherds in the surrounding fields received the angelic announcement.
Key verses
"But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."
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"And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Beth-lehem:"
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"And Jehovah said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go: I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons."
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"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
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"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him."
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