Bible Word of the Day
Bible Vocabulary
Bethlehem (Bethlehem Ephrathah, Ephrath)
Meaning
There were actually two towns called Bethlehem in the Bible. One was located in the territory of Zebulun near Nazareth where Jesus grew up and the second most famous one was located four miles south of Jerusalem where Jesus was born. This Bethlehem was called Bethlehem Ephrathah. The latter is situated on a couple of hills and rested in the highlands like Jerusalem. The elevation of Bethlehem Ephrathah was a little over two-thousand feet. This town was inhabited by the descendants of Caleb.
If you remember from the Exodus story of the twelve spies, only Caleb and Joshua were faithful and told the people to take the land. Also the Bible tells us that Jacob's beloved wife Rachel died while giving their birth to Benjamin. Bethlehem Ephrathah was also the city that Naomi and Ruth returned to in the book of Ruth. In addition, David and several of his mighty men of valor were from Bethlehem Ephrathah. But most importantly, this is where Jesus was born and this is the same town where the prophet Micah prophesied that Jesus, the Messiah would be born.
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." (Book of Micah 5:2)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." (Gospel of Matthew 5:1-2)
   
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