Study · Place
Bethlehem
Bethlehem — 'house of bread' in Hebrew — is the birthplace of both King David and Jesus Christ. The prophet Micah predicted over 700 years in advance that the ruler of Israel would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), a prophecy fulfilled when Mary and Joseph travelled there for the census.
Biblical and historical context
Bethlehem Ephrathah sits about 10 kilometres south of Jerusalem in the Judean hills. The town was one of the minor cities of Judah but gained outsized biblical significance through its association with David's lineage and the nativity of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity, built over the traditional site of Jesus' birth, has stood since the 4th century and remains one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world.
Location
Judea, Palestine · 31.7054, 35.2024