Bethlehem

Location

Bethlehem lies about six miles south of Jerusalem in the Judean hill country. The name Bethlehem means 'house of bread' in Hebrew (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1). The town sits at roughly 2,500 feet above sea level, on a ridge overlooking the Judean wilderness to the east and the coastal plain to the west.

Biblical importance

Bethlehem is named in Scripture as the burial place of Rachel (Genesis 35:19), the town of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 1:1, 4:11), the town of David (1 Samuel 16:1-13), the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2), and the birthplace of Christ (Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4-7).

Historical timeline

• c. 1900 BC — Rachel is buried on the road to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19).
• c. 1100 BC — The story of Ruth and Boaz unfolds at Bethlehem (Book of Ruth).
• c. 1010 BC — Samuel anoints David king in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:13).
• c. 700 BC — Micah prophesies that the ruler of Israel shall come from Bethlehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2).
• c. 6-4 BC — The birth of Christ (Matthew 2:1, Luke 2). Traditional dating; the exact year is debated.
• AD 135 — Hadrian plants a grove sacred to Adonis over the traditional cave of the Nativity (Jerome, Epistle 58).
• AD 326-333 — Constantine builds a basilica over the cave of the Nativity (Eusebius, Vita Constantini III.41-43).
• AD 386-420 — Jerome lives in Bethlehem, translating the Latin Vulgate in a cave near the basilica.
• AD 529 — The basilica is destroyed in the Samaritan revolt.
• AD 565 — Justinian rebuilds the basilica in its present form.
• AD 614 — Persian invasion; the basilica is spared, tradition says, because the wise men were depicted in Persian dress on the facade.
• AD 1099 — Crusaders take Bethlehem.
• AD 1187 — Saladin retakes the town.
• AD 1517 — Ottoman rule begins.

Important biblical events

• Genesis 35:19-20 (KJV) Rachel is buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
• Ruth 1:19 (KJV) Naomi and Ruth arrive at Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
• Ruth 4:13 (KJV) Boaz takes Ruth to wife in Bethlehem; from this union comes the line of David.
• 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (KJV) Samuel anoints David the son of Jesse at Bethlehem.
• 2 Samuel 23:14-17 (KJV) David longs for water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate.
• Micah 5:2 (KJV) '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.'
• Matthew 2:1 (KJV) Christ is born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king.
• Matthew 2:11 (KJV) The wise men, having come to the house, present gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
• Matthew 2:16-18 (KJV) Herod slays the children of Bethlehem — the Massacre of the Innocents.
• Luke 2:4-7 (KJV) Joseph goes up from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be taxed; there Mary brings forth her firstborn son and lays him in a manger.
• Luke 2:8-14 (KJV) The shepherds keep watch over their flocks by night in the fields near Bethlehem.

Important Christian events

• The Church of the Nativity, first built by Constantine (c. AD 326-333) and rebuilt by Justinian (c. AD 565), is one of the oldest continuously operating Christian churches in the world.
• Jerome (c. AD 347-420) lived in Bethlehem for over 30 years, translating the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate) in a cave adjacent to the basilica.
• Paula and Eustochium, Roman noblewomen, founded a monastery and hospice in Bethlehem in AD 386 (Jerome, Epistle 108).
• The Milk Grotto tradition (a small chapel near the basilica) is not attested until later medieval sources.

Related Scripture

• Micah 5:2 (KJV) The prophecy of the ruler to come from Bethlehem.
• Matthew 2:6 (KJV) The KJV cites Micah 5:2 at the coming of the wise men.
• Luke 2:11 (KJV) 'For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.'
• John 7:42 (KJV) 'Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem?'

Related biblical people

• Rachel, wife of Jacob.
• Boaz and Ruth — the great-grandparents of David.
• Jesse and his sons, including David.
• Mary and Joseph.
• The shepherds of Luke 2.
• The wise men from the east (Matthew 2).
• Jerome, translator of the Vulgate.
• Paula and Eustochium, monastic founders.

Related Journeys

• Journey — Advent (future)
• Journey — the ministry of Jesus (future)

Historical churches

• Church of the Nativity — the sixth-century Justinian basilica over the traditional cave of the Nativity.
• St Catherine's Church (Franciscan, medieval and modern) — adjoining the Church of the Nativity, associated with Jerome.
• The Shepherds' Field chapels — modern chapels marking the traditional locations near Beit Sahour.

Historic monasteries

• Mar Saba (in the Judean Desert nearby) — see Jerusalem page.
• Franciscan and Greek Orthodox convents adjoining the Church of the Nativity.

Museums and archaeological collections

• The archaeological areas within the Church of the Nativity itself.
• The Bethlehem Museum (small local heritage collection).

Pilgrimage today

The Church of the Nativity has been a pilgrimage destination since the fourth century (see Egeria's Travels, late fourth century). CrossAIHub does not recommend a tour operator. If the household is drawn to visit, plan with a trusted parish or diocese.

Related liturgical seasons

• Advent — the four weeks preparing for Christmas.
• Christmas — commemorating the Nativity.
• Epiphany — commemorating the arrival of the wise men (Matthew 2:1-12).

Images (public-domain, to be added)

Historic maps (public-domain, to be added)

Further reading

• Jerome, Epistles 46, 58, and 108 — descriptions of Bethlehem in the fourth century.
• Egeria, Travels (Itinerarium Egeriae) — late-fourth-century pilgrim account.
• The KJV: Ruth 1-4, 1 Samuel 16, Micah 5, Matthew 2, Luke 2.