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12th-11th centuries B.C.E
- The city was probably established as an Israelite settlement during the time of Judges (ca. 12th-11th centuries B.C.E.).
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Dec 24, 2015 · When did Bethlehem become the “city of David”? That title had always been given to Jerusalem. Forty times in the Old Testament, Jerusalem is referred to as the city of David, and no other city in the Bible is ever called by that name. Until Luke’s gospel.
- Where Was Jesus Born and Why?
- 7 Things to Know About Bethlehem, Where Jesus Was Born
- Why Is Bethlehem Still Relevant?
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:4-20). But how did Mary and Joseph find themselves so far from their hometown of Nazareth at a time so close to Mary’s delivery? The explanation begins with Caesar Augustus, the Emperor of Rome, who ruled from 27 BC-14 AD. Historians have branded Caesar...
1. Bethlehem means house of bread
Bethlehem is located in the hill country right outside of Jerusalem. A mild climate and plentiful rainfall, ensure that the town’s fields, orchards, and vineyards thrive into consistently bountiful harvests. The fertile land is probably why the area was first called Bethlehem or Beit Lehem, which means, “house of bread.” In His divine sovereignty, God would later appoint this town as the birthplace of His Son who would declare, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry...
2. Bethlehem was considered a tiny, insignificant town
Instead of choosing the holy city of Jerusalem as Jesus, the King of Kings, birthplace, God selected a town so small that it wasn’t even listed in the registry of towns in Joshua 15 or Nehemiah 11. Not only was this unusual act the fulfillment of messianic prophecy (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:6), but the Savior’s humble birthplace demonstrates God’s greatness. As John Piperexplains, “God chose something small, quiet, out of the way, and did something there that changes the course of history and ete...
3. Scripture foretold the Messiah’s Birth in Bethlehem
700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Micah prophesied that Bethlehem would be the Messiah’s birthplace. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2) God used the Roman Empire’s greedy taxation practices to draw Mary and Joseph to the appointed place of Christ’s birth at the appointed time.
Bethlehem is the home to over 27,000 residents today. Those who live in Bethlehem are considered citizens of Palestine. Two million tourists provide 65% of the town’s wealth. Christians from all over the world travel to Bethlehem to see and experience the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The Church of the Nativity, built around AD 327, still stands in t...
Nov 17, 2021 · Despite Bethlehem being an insignificant city at the time, it has now become known as the city of our Lord. The Bible tells us Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem to His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph ( Luke 2:4-20 ).
Dec 16, 2020 · Pilgrimage trail. If at least some of the caves at these seven sites were constructed or modified to indicate places of Christian significance prior to the fourth century, they are among the...
- Ken Dark
Bethlehem remained a city of significance throughout the stories of David’s life and reign; while fighting the Philistines, who had a garrison at Bethlehem, David requests water from the well of Bethlehem (2 Samuel 23:15).
Bethlehem is familiar to readers of the Bible principally because that city was prophesied to be the location where a new Davidic king would be born and, according to the story of the nativity, it is the place of Jesus’s birth (see Mic 5:2; Matt 2:1-18; Luke 2:1-20; John 7:42).
Dec 23, 2017 · Bethlehem had a long history even before it became known as the site of Jesus Christ’s birth. Now it sits at the heart of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
