Bethlehem: Birthplace of Jesus Christ
by Owen Borville
Bethlehem was the birthplace of Jesus Christ, as predicted by the prophet Micah (Micah 5:2) in the 8th century B.C. and confirmed in the 1st century A.D. by Matthew 2:1 and Matthew 2:5-6, Luke 2:4, Luke 2:15, and John 7:42. Bethlehem is located only six miles south of Jerusalem, and 90 miles south of Nazareth in northern Israel, the route Mary his mother and her husband Joseph travelled. The trip was completed in about five days.
Mary and Joseph were both descendants of David and their family roots ran through Bethlehem even though they lived in Nazareth. After the birth of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus left Bethlehem and travelled to Egypt to escape King Herod's threats and later returned when it was safe to Nazareth (Matthew 1, Luke 2). Bethlehem today is located today just inside the West Bank territory. Bethlehem means "house of bread" in Hebrew and Aramaic. Today people visit Bethlehem to see the birthplace of Jesus, and also Rachel's tomb.
Bethlehem (Ephrath or Ephrathah meaning "fruitful") was the place of Rachel's death, the wife of Jacob (Genesis 35:19). Bethlehem was also the hometown of Boaz, the wealthy landowner who married Ruth (Ruth 1) an ancestor of Jesus through Boaz (Matthew 1). Bethlehem was also the hometown of Jesse, the father of David, an ancestor of Jesus (1 Samuel 16:1).
Micah 5:2
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2 KJV.
Matthew 2:1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Matthew 2:1 KJV.
Matthew 2:5-6
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. (Matthew 2:5-6)(Micah 5:2,4)
Luke 2:4
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) Luke 2:4 KJV.
Luke 2:15-16
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Luke 2:15-16 KJV.
John 7:42
42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? John 7:42 KJV.
by Owen Borville
Bethlehem was the birthplace of Jesus Christ, as predicted by the prophet Micah (Micah 5:2) in the 8th century B.C. and confirmed in the 1st century A.D. by Matthew 2:1 and Matthew 2:5-6, Luke 2:4, Luke 2:15, and John 7:42. Bethlehem is located only six miles south of Jerusalem, and 90 miles south of Nazareth in northern Israel, the route Mary his mother and her husband Joseph travelled. The trip was completed in about five days.
Mary and Joseph were both descendants of David and their family roots ran through Bethlehem even though they lived in Nazareth. After the birth of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus left Bethlehem and travelled to Egypt to escape King Herod's threats and later returned when it was safe to Nazareth (Matthew 1, Luke 2). Bethlehem today is located today just inside the West Bank territory. Bethlehem means "house of bread" in Hebrew and Aramaic. Today people visit Bethlehem to see the birthplace of Jesus, and also Rachel's tomb.
Bethlehem (Ephrath or Ephrathah meaning "fruitful") was the place of Rachel's death, the wife of Jacob (Genesis 35:19). Bethlehem was also the hometown of Boaz, the wealthy landowner who married Ruth (Ruth 1) an ancestor of Jesus through Boaz (Matthew 1). Bethlehem was also the hometown of Jesse, the father of David, an ancestor of Jesus (1 Samuel 16:1).
Micah 5:2
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2 KJV.
Matthew 2:1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Matthew 2:1 KJV.
Matthew 2:5-6
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. (Matthew 2:5-6)(Micah 5:2,4)
Luke 2:4
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) Luke 2:4 KJV.
Luke 2:15-16
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Luke 2:15-16 KJV.
John 7:42
42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? John 7:42 KJV.
