What is the importance of Bethlehem in the Bible?

Answer

Bethlehem’s central significance in the Bible stems from its connection to Jesus Christ. The prophet Micah predicted that the Messiah of Israel would be born in Bethlehem: “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;Matthew 2:4-6). Both Matthew and Luke record that Jesus was born in the modest village of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-12;Luke 2:4-20).

Bethlehem is also recognized as the City of David. The city served as David’s family home (1 Samuel 16:1;1 Samuel 17:12) and the site where he was anointed king (1 Samuel 16:4-13). The city is at times referred to as Bethlehem of Judah or Bethlehem Ephrath «And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem. », (Genesis 35:19) to distinguish it from the Bethlehem of Zebulun «and Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Beth-lehem: twelve cities with their villages. », (Joshua 19:15).

The name Bethlehem translates to “House of Bread,” likely indicating a broader concept of “food” due to its proximity to abundant fields in the Judean desert. The town of Bethlehem is located approximately five miles southwest of Jerusalem in the hill country of Judah, about 2,500 feet above sea level. The climate is temperate, and rainfall is ample. Productive fields, orchards, and vineyards.Surrounding the city is a rocky spur just off the main route to Hebron and Egypt. Bethlehem has embraced a blend of cultures and peoples since its establishment.

Bethlehem is first mentioned in the Bible as the town closest to where Jacob’s wife Rachel died and was buried (Genesis 35:19; Genesis 48:7); during that period, it was a Canaanite settlement.

A young Levite from Bethlehem served as an idolatrous priest for a man named Micah in Ephraim (Judges 17:7-13). Additionally, Bethlehem was the birthplace of a concubine whose murder led to the massacre of the people of Gibeah (Judges 19—20).

Naomi, her husband, and their two sons resided in Bethlehem before relocating to Moab due to a famine. “Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.” (Ruth 1:1). After the deaths of her husband and sons, Naomi returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth (Ruth 1:16-19, 22). East of Bethlehem is the valley where Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz. “And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.” (Ruth 2:4). Boaz and Ruth tied the knot in Bethlehem, where they had their son, Obed, who later became the grandfather of King David. “So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.” (Ruth 4:13).

(Ruth 4:13,17) «And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. », (Ruth 4:13,17).

Caleb’s family settled in Bethlehem, and his grandson Salma became known as “the father of Bethlehem” «Salma the father of Beth-lehem, Hareph the father of Beth-gader. », (1 Chronicles 2:51). Bethlehem was the hometown of two of David’s mighty men: Elhanan, son of Dodo; and Asahel (2 Samuel 2:32;2 Samuel 23:24;1 Chronicles 11:26). While David was camped at the cave of Adullam, three of his war heroes risked their lives by breaking through a Philistine garrison that occupied Bethlehem to bring David water to drink from the well at the city’s gate (2 Samuel 23:13-17).

As the City of David, Bethlehem became a symbol of the king’s dynasty. Under Solomon and later Rehoboam, Bethlehem expanded in importance as a strategic fortress. Much later, after the murder of Gedaliah in the days of Babylonian occupation, some Jewish refugees stayed near Bethlehem on their way to Egypt «and they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt, », (Jeremiah 41:17). Later, more than a hundred people from Bethlehem were among those who returned to their homeland from exile in Babylon (Ezra 2:21;Nehemiah 7:26).

Bethlehem, while diminished in importance to a humble village in New Testament times, remains distinct.

Distinguished above all other biblical cities as the place where our Savior Jesus Christ was born. When the time came for Mary to give birth, Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus decreed that a census be taken. The law required every citizen to return to his or her hometown to register. Joseph went with Mary to Bethlehem “because he belonged to the house and line of David” «And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) », (Luke 2:4). In Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus. “She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them” «And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. », (Luke 2:7).

In another fulfillment of prophecy «Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. », (Jeremiah 31:15), King Herod, who was plotting to kill the newborn king, ordered the murder of all male babies two years old and younger in and surrounding Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16-18).

Today the Church of the Nativity, built by Constantine the Great around AD 330, still stands in Bethlehem. Tradition states that a cave under the church is the actual spot where Jesus Christ was born. The manger site is marked by a star with the Latin inscription, Hic De Virgine Maria Jesus Christus Natus Est, meaning “Here Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary.”