Bethlehem

Bethlehem is a city located in the “hill country” of Judah. It is about 8 km. (5 mi.) south of Jerusalem, standing at about 77 m. (2,550 ft.) above sea level, thus 30.5 m. (100 ft.) higher than Jerusalem. Its name means house of bread. Originally called Ephrath (Genesis 35:16,19; 48:7; Ruth 4:11), but has also been called Bethlehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2), Bethlehem Judah (1 Samuel 17:12), and “the city of David” (Luke 2:4).

Its first mention in the Bible speaks that it was here Rachel, wife of Jacob, (a patriarch of Israel) died and was buried “in the way of Ephrath” directly to the city’s north (Genesis 48:7). The valley to the east of the town was a scene found in the Biblical story of Ruth, the Moabitess. In the fields of Bethlehem, she gleaned and was the path that she and her mother-in-law, Naomi, returned into the town.

This town was the birthplace of David (one of the most well-known figures in Jewish history). It was here also, in later years, David was anointed as Israel’s king by the prophet, Samuel (1 Samuel 16:4-13). From the well of Bethlehem, three of David’s heroic men brought water for him at the risk of their lives when he was in the cave of Adullam (2 Samuel 23:13-17).

Bethlehem is a distinguished city above every other city as here was the birthplace of Him (Jesus) “that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). After Jesus’ birth, “Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16).