– Small town in Judah, but of great importance for Christians, because Jesus, the Messiah, was born there:
Mt 2,1-2 : Having therefore Jesus been born in Bethlehem of Judah.
Mic 5:1 : But you, Bethlehem of Ephratah, […], it is from you that the one who is called to rule Israel will come out to me.
Lk 2,4-15 : Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the City of David, called Bethlehem.
Jn 7,42 : Will the Christ come from the family of David, and from the village of Bethlehem, where David lived?
– Modern name of ancient Ephrata, it is recorded a few times in the book of Ruth. It is connected with the descendants of Judah:
Gen 35:19 : Rachel expired and was buried on the way to Ephrath, now Bethlehem.
Rt 1,1-2.19 : A man left Bethlehem of Judah, with his wife and two sons.
Rt 2,4 : Booz had just returned from Bethlehem and greeted the reapers.
Rt 4,11 : Be happy in Ephrata, acquire a name in Bethlehem!
1Ch 4,4 : Phanuel was the father of Gedor and Ezer the father of Hosha. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.
– In her was born David:
1Sm 16,1-2 : I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, because I have chosen a king from among his sons.
1Sam 17:12 , 58 : Now David was one of the eight sons of an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in Judah.
1Sm 20,6.28 : If your father notices my absence, you can tell him that I asked you for permission to go to Bethlehem, my city.
2 Sam 2:32 : They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem.
