Bethlehem

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Bethlehem

Meaning - house of bread

Bethlehem is one of the most famous cities in the Bible. It is the birth place of Jesus, the birth place of David and where Boaz and Ruth were united. It is located about 6 miles (9 kilometers) south of Jerusalem in the Judean hill country.

Bethlehem is important to Bible history in a number of ways. Most people know it is the birth place of Jesus. But also, Jacob buried his wife Rachel at Bethlehem. This same place is where Boaz and Ruth lived, who became the great grand parents of David, king of Israel. Since David was from Bethlehem it became the ancestral home David's future generations. Joseph was required to travel to Bethlehem for the census, where Mary gave birth to Jesus. Both Joseph and Mary were in David's blood line. After the birth of Jesus, Herod gave orders to kill all the male babies (2 years old and younger) in Bethlehem (Mat 2:16).

Originally called Ephrath (Gen. 35:16, 19; 48:7; Ruth 4:11). It was also called Beth-lehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2), Beth-lehem-judah (1 Sam. 17:12), and "the city of David" (Luke 2:4). David's roots are established in Bethlehem after one of the Israelites (Salmon) marries Rahab from Jericho and settled near Bethlehem. Rahab became the mother of Boaz and the great-great grand mother of David. Therefore, from Bethlehem, Rahab and Salmon form the lineage of Jesus Christ.(Matthew 1:5-6). The valley to the east was the scene of the story of Ruth the Moabitess. There are the fields in which she gleaned, and the path by which she and Naomi returned to the town.

It was from Bethlehem that David was anointed to become King of Israel by Samuel (1 Sam. 16:4-13). Later, while he was in the cave of Adullamit, three of David's men risked their lives to bring him water from the well of Bethlehem (2 Sam. 23:13-17).

Josheph and Mary returned to Bethlehem for a census. The town being full, had no room for them in the inn. While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus and was wrapped in swaddling cloth in a manger. They were visited by shepherds and the Magi. Herod later gave orders to kill all the male babies in Bethlehem.

Bethlehem is located about 9 kilometers south of Jerusalem. It is in the Biblical land of Judah. Its population at the time of the birth of Christ is believed to have been around 500. Today, it is where the Church of the Nativity stands. This is believed to be the site where Jesus was born, but there is no solid archaeological evidence that this is the actual site of His birth. There is also another Bethlehem located about 11 kilometers northwest of Nazareth. However, this is not in Biblical Judah.

Scriptures

Genesis 35: 19

Genesis 48: 7

Joshua 19: 15

Judges 19: 1,2,18

Judges 12: 8,10

Judges 17: 7-9

Ruth 1: 1-2:4

Ruth 4: 11

1 Samuel 16: 1-18

1 Samuel 17: 12-15,58

1 Samuel 20: 6,28

2 Samuel 2: 32

2 Samuel 21: 19

2 Samuel 23: 14-16,24

1 Chronicles 11: 16-18,26

2 Chronicles 11: 6

Ezra 2: 21

Nehemiah 7: 26

Jeremiah 41: 17

Micah 5: 2

Matthew 2: 1-16

Luke 2: 4,15

John 7: 42

References

genesisfiles.com