Furthermore, according to Micah 5:2, the ruler of Israel would come from Bethlehem Ephrathah, which was in the territory of the biblical tribe of Judah. (3) The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), which I like the most, because it is very accurate and the translation is more friendly in speaking to women. It would not have been safe, as the territory between towns was not policed and bandits would have been a real concern. In our Necklace we have the different stages in the history of Israel: In Genesis, from the Tora: the Patriarchal period. Basic Info. Notes Answers.com: I highly recommend Joel P. Kramers book, Where God Came Down: The Archaeological Evidence, which has the best summary of information Ive yet found. The border circled around it on the north to Hannathon, and it ended at the valley of Iphtahel. 2 Steve Mason, O Little Town ofNazareth? Biblical Archaeology Review. [17] Of the Christians, 95 were Protestant and 16 were Greek Catholics (Melkites). Moreover, the Greek word translated as inn (kataluma in Luke 2:7) is perhaps better translated as upper room, as it is in Luke 22:11 where Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Last Supper. This small village in the north of Israel which is, according to studies, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, has so much to offer; An aromatic experience in the Space Road Farm, learning about cows in the Milk trail, Raspberries picking and more. He was therefore called Jesus of Nazareth, although His birthplace was Bethlehem; and those who became His disciples were known as . We know what happened in Bethlehem of Judea because of written knowledge after the fact, but to the people of the time, it was all a surprise. One author makes a good case for a caravan. The modern moshav is located at the site of the ancient Israelite settlement known as Bethlehem of Zebulun or Berlehem Zoria. They have discovered a Bethlehem that existed in the Galilee near Nazareth. Romance, Passionate Love, Sexual Pleasures: What Does the Bible Say?. Just click the proper button at the end of each article. Here we need to look at the historical context. Major urban areas in the region include Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Gush Etzion, Jericho and Hebron. The town existed as a Christian settlement in the classic era and was populated during the Middle Ages. Please help me. On 17 April 1948 the Haganah captured the village, and it was subsequently depopulated. . Do as the Bereans did, they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so (Acts 17:11, NRSV). t: +972 2 6259573. Regarding Nazareth, James Murphy-OConnor notes, the silence of Paul, Acts, Mark, John and some Jewish and Roman historians who fail to mention Jesus birthplace is irrelevant. Shamed by their devotion, David poured it out. Irene & Robert, thank you for reading this article and for also taking the time to leave a public comment. [23], In the 1945 statistics the population of Beit Lam consisted of 370 people; 210 Muslims and 160 Christians,[24] and the total land area was 7,526 dunams according to an official land and population survey. In the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 2,19 it is said: But when Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord came in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Get up and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: because they who were attempting to take the young childs life are dead. Please be aware that, although the majority of posts found on this website are for general audiences, there may be certain controversial, mature, or adult content. He adds there is evidence the other Bethlehem in the West Bank, or what Israelis call Judea . While the biblical text makes no mention of a cave, neither does it mention a stable; Luke simply records that baby Jesus was laid in a manger (Luke 2:7, 12, 16). There are so many man-made bibles out here, that is scares me to think I wont make it to heaven due to reading the wrong one, I was raised on the KJV all my life. I liked reading it. 4 Earliest Archaeological Evidence of the Existence of the City of Bethlehem already in the First Temple Period (May 2012), Israel Antiquities Authority. Micha written before the Babylonian Exile, Caravans, certainly, and perhaps carts pulled by donkeys? Micahbefore the Babylonian Exile. "the Galilean Bethlehem") is a moshav in northern Israel. 1. Answer (1 of 13): Nazareth is in Galilee. Listed on Blogspots [21] After the Nazi takeover in Germany, all international schools of German language subsidized or fully financed by government funds were obliged to employ teachers aligned to the Nazi Party. Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; Nehemiah and Ezra, books written after the Exile, He wrote of the very cave where the infant Christ had uttered His earliest cry and that Bethlehem was thus the most venerable spot in the whole world.12 In his book, Where God Came Down: The Archaeological Evidence, Joel P. Kramer notes that a series of caves beneath the Church of the Nativity were excavated in 1949-1950 by Bellarmino Bagatti, who found evidence establishing that thy were in use in the first century AD.13. For this reason, Mary and Joseph travelled from nearby Nazareth to Bethlehem of Judah where Jesus the MessiahGod incarnatewas born. https://outlawbiblestudent.org/bible-versions-why-so-many/, https://outlawbiblestudent.org/bible-version-chart/, Prophecy of the Coming King Nancy E. Head. from you shall come forth for me The continuity of Gods project and Gods fidelity until today to his project, the deep relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament. How many generations of Christians have prayed in this place! Aviram Oshri, a senior archaeologist with the Israeli Antiquities Authority, supports this claim, but other researchers at the same institution reject it. The prophet Micah foretold that Israel's Messiah 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). God is more interested in how we live our life, than which version of scripture we use. It is also the city that was built as a fortified city by Rehoboam, son of king Salomon (2 Chr 11:5). Copyright 2017-2023 Ray Hermann, The Outlaw Bible Student. Bethlehem of Galilee: Experience the Magic. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. In summer 1941, 665 German internees, mostly young families with children, were deported to Australia, leaving those who were too old or sick. [22] Later, this opposition subsided. 14 Gary A. Byers, Away In A Manger, But Not In A Barn. Bible and Spade, Vol. For more information, click on The Fine Print on the top menu bar. The city is situated within the hill country of Judah, part of a central mountain range that runs north-south through much of Palestine (the ancient Roman name for the region). Politically Galilee had been under separate administration from Judea during almost all its history since the tenth century B.C. The tradition of the birth cave is mentioned in writings from the second, third, and fourth centuries, culminating with the construction of the Church of the Nativity. And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, To be enrolled with Mary, his. But, inaccurate distance and lack of understanding the necessities of travel long ago, are not the only things I found wrong with Oshris theory. We're excited to worship with you. (See Versions of the Bible). Here is a short version of the story preceding Jesus' birth. 9 Randall Price and H. Wayne House,Zondervan Handbook of Biblical Archaeology(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2017), 237. What is the difference between Galilee and Judea? It is also known as Bethlehem of Zebulun, Bethlehem of Galilee, the Galilean Bethlehem, and Beth Lehem Zoria. It eventually became a Christian community, and much later became a ruined village called Beit-Lahm. Different Units: 175.2 km, 108.87 mi, 94.6 nmi. Mt 15:21: And Jesus went out from there and withdrew into parts of Tyre and Sidon. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free John 8:32, (NIV). (1) The New King James Version (NKJV), which is very true to the older KJV, but is much easier to read. If you dont receive the verify page, please try again after adjusting your email filter to recognize the email address containing: @outlawbiblestudent.org. Located in the Galilee near Kiryat Tivon, around 10 kilometres north-west of Nazareth and 30 kilometres east of Haifa, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Jezreel Valley Regional Council.As of 2019 it had a population of 843. I had recently seen the TV show, Expedition Unknown, where Oshri was interviewed and the Bethlehem of Galilee was explored. Despite our incredulity in the modern world regarding the difficulty of walking (or riding on a donkey, if the Christmas cards are accurate), people in the ancient world thought nothing of traveling great distances. in Samuel the Kingship of David. I even republished some of her articles in the religious journal I edited back in the 1990s. Bethlehem of Judea is just 10 kilometers from Jerusalem, an equally holy city. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Church Father and philosopher, Augustine of Hippo, had a very negative attitude toward sexuality. All details in my privacy policy. Through this history of Bethlehem, we can see that God makes his way through our correct as well as our crooked ways (history of the Judges, of the Kings). v.31: And again he went out from the borders of Tyre, Acts 21:4: Paul on the way to Jerusalem, found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem. [12], In 1875 Victor Gurin visited and noted that Bethlehem was a small village, which had succeeded a town of the same name. Your email address will NOT be published. As my daughter then? Can we hope that one day, without neglecting Bethlehem of Judah, pilgrims could visit Bethlehem of Galilee? Territory of Zebulun Now the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun according to their families. In fact, according to the synoptic text, Jesus would have to be born in Bethlehem of Judah because that was where the Messiah was to be born, according to the interpretation of the Bible. Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? He built Bethlehem, Etam and Tekoa. David, hiding with his small army in caves of the region, grew homesick. 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men 1 from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, " Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? Rachel was the beloved wife of Jacob, and from Benjamin will come the first king of Israel, Saul (Shaul). In the Gospel according to John(7:42), there is an interesting reflection to which we usually dont pay much attention. While archaeological evidence from the first-century AD village of Bethlehem is scant (due primarily to a lack of excavation), it is not absent, as some claim. and the Book of Ruth, which gives a basis to the genealogy of David, from whom will come the Messiah. Steinberg, Jessica, Was Jesus born in a different Bethlehem? (. Why Did Gods Chosen People Stay in Egypt After the Famine? Look for the lock in the address bar. Something is going on down in Bethlehem, Copyright 2021, Dr. Ray Hermann Aviram Oshri, a senior archaeologist with the Israeli Antiquities Authority, supports this claim,[5][6] although others at this institution reject it. of the city of Bethlehem in Judah shows how God can intercultural the history of the covenant into pagan culture:Bethlehem, house of bread, , or house of meat as well as the house of war (since the word for war is milhama literally meaning: the place of (fighting for) bread or meat, which says war for economic reasons. _______________________________________________. The Canaanites built a temple on the hill known as the Hill of the Nativity, probably dedicated to Lehem.The temple, and subsequently the town that grew up around it, would then have been known as Beit Leem, House (Temple) of Lehem. There is no contraction between Jesus being born in Bethlehem of Judea and people referring to him as Jesus of Nazareth.. And the territory of their inheritance was as far as Sarid. According to the Bible, Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. Personally, I think he was fudging the distance a bit, for my research indicates the distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem of Judea is really about 113 kilometers (70 miles).4 Besides, Mary and Joseph didnt voluntarily choose to make this trip, they were commanded to do so, by the government. With some shepherds Our newsletter is a short email sent to notify subscribers about new information that has been posted to the OBS site. The Roman emperor issued a decree that a census was to be taken throughout Rome and everyone needed to return to their ancestral town to be registered (Luke 2:1-3). Bethlehem is distinguished above every other city as the birthplace of Him whose goings forth have been of old., And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, But King David was not born in Nazareth . Joseph's fears about living within Judea are confirmed when God sends him a warning in a dream. And this sight is greatly talked of in surrounding places, even among the enemies of the faith, it being said that in this cave was born Jesus who is worshiped and reverenced.11 In the fourth century AD, Jerome moved to Bethlehem and lived in a grotto next to the cave of Christs birth. The most that we can derive from these sources is that Jesus was believed to have come from Nazareth.3 The title Jesus of Nazareth conveys that he was from that town, which is true, even if he wasnt born there. As of 2019 it had a population of 843.[1]. Did the men return to the Bethlehem of Galilee? But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, Until today, pilgrims go on pilgrimage to Bethlehem of Judah as the place of Jesus birth. Some historians and archaeologists believe this is the town where Jesus was born and not in the Bethlehem south of Jerusalem which is over ninety miles from Nazareth. After the start of World War II, all Germans in Palestine were declared enemy aliens. 17 William Albright and C.S. Bethlehem of Judah is on the ridge of the Judean Hills and near the desert, thus a place of emptiness, of humility. Depending on who you ask, the answer might surprise you. The Hebrew Bible also calls it Beth-Lehem Judah, and the New Testament describes it as the "City of David". After Iudaea became a Roman province in 6 A.D. (formed by a merger of Judea, Samaria and Idumea), Galilee briefly became a part of it, then separated from it. Another non-canon biblical book, the Gospel of James, mentions more of Josephs children from a previous marriage. I grew up in Hilton Beach, which I consider my hometown, not Oshawa. The city is part of Galilee, which is ruled by a another son of Herod the Great named Herod Antipas. Riddle of the second Bethlehem]", "Israeli Archeologist says Jesus was born in Bethlehemof Galilee? In these fields, she gleaned with Naomi, and returned on a path to the town. Aviram Oshri believes that Jesus was not born in Bethlehem of Judea, but rather Bethlehem in Galilee. Matthew 2-3. ", Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bethlehem_of_Galilee&oldid=1125990488, Populated places in Northern District (Israel), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2012, Articles lacking reliable references from July 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 6 December 2022, at 23:33. In 1933, Templer functionaries appealed to Paul von Hindenburg and the Foreign Office not to use swastika symbols for German institutions in Palestine and voiced opposition to the boycott of German Jewish shops. It is revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims as the wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. We keep your email address private we do not give, trade, share, or sell it to others. Due to its proximity to Nazareth, one historian believes that it is the Bethlehem where Jesus of Nazareth was born. Your opinion is appreciated. Ezra and Nehemiah, written after the Exile speak of the return from Exile, but to which Bethlehem did they return? 2:5). In 2 Samuel 23:24, Asahel, the brother of Joab, was one of the thirty warriors; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem was another. . In 2006, it had a . Mary and Joseph would have been amongst the vast migration of people. Most caravans would have included individuals walking, as well as using camels, and accompanied by wagons pulled by other animals. Bethlehem of Galilee is a moshav in northern Israel. But the wise men say that its true 2 Samuel 23:13-17 speaks of three warriors: Once, the Philistines had captured Bethlehem of Judah and were encamped there. " 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem . Rtsel um das zweite Bethlehem. Shepherds fields outside modern Bethlehem, Modern Bethlehems Manger Square and Church of the Nativity, The Shrine of the Nativity which is claimed to mark the place of Jesus Christs birth in Bethlehem, Bethlehem, the city of David and birthplace of Christ, now a Palestinian town with a Muslim majoritysatellite view scroll north to see Jerusalem, 6.2 miles (10 km) away, Modern Bethlehem of Galilee, Israelsatellite view / Zoom out to view its proximity to. From there it continued eastward toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin, and it proceeded to Rimmon which stretches to Neah. Afterward, when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he his men and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem, and all its vicinity, from two years old and under (Matthew 2:16, 18; Jeremiah 31:15). 5 S. Gutman and A. Berman, Chronique Archologique, Review Biblique 77 (1970), 583. Joshua 15:19: The time of the conquest. Rachels supposed tomb is also marked in the modern city of Bethlehem. But note that there is another Bethlehem located in Galilee, a village in the tribal . And there was an order from the Emperor Augustus, that all in Bethlehem of Juda should be enrolled. This Bethlehem of Galilee lies within the borders of Tyre. Distance between Jerusalem Corridor (Yerushalayim) and Galilee (Northern District) (Israel) Driving Distance: 175.2 km , Estimated Duration: 2 hours 3 minutes if average speed speed is 85km/hr. Did the men return to the Bethlehem of Galilee? As i looked into this it appears that the apocryphal writing (130AD) may have been in some way to trying to keep the idea of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Dec. 8, 2009.https://biblearchaeology.org/research/chronological-categories/life-and-ministry-of-jesus-and-apostles/2411-the-slaughter-of-the-innocents-historical-fact-or-legendary-fiction(Accessed Dec. 6, 2021). It was through this hereditary line that Jesus was born. Lets face it, migrations necessary across large areas of land were never easy in the days before modern transportation, and pregnant women werent exempt from the hardships. For more information, click on The Fine Print on the top menu bar. Quoted by Joel P. Kramer in Where God Came Down: The Archaeological Evidence. Bethlehem, or somehow connected with it. 2), Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judah because according to Scripture, he would be from the house of David and David was from Bethlehem of Judah: Today a Savior is born to you in the city of David. Recent searches Clear. His parents were from Nazareth (Luke 1:26; 2:4), and he grew up in Nazareth (Matt. I, General Administration NDS (Place of residence: Italy), process personal data to operate this website only to the extent technically necessary. Enjoy the magic. In the Jerusalem Talmud it is referred to as Beth Lehem Zoria, as it was part of the kingdom of Tyre at the time. Both Bethlehem and Jerusalem were in the Roman province of Judea, considerably to the whose origin is from of old, In this Necklace we will use the three parts of the Covenant found in the Torah, the Prophets, and the Holy Writings. Both Matthew (Mt 2:1) and Luke (Lk 2:4) are clear on this point. He was a shepherd and then became the shepherd of Israel. The population was 27 households and two bachelors, all Muslim. In 1932 the Nazi Party gained its first two members in Palestine; Karl Ruff and Walter Aberle from the Templer colony in Haifa. Did Josef come from the Bethlehem of Galilee? Was Jesus born in a stable? He died in Jerusalem and rose again and in the light of the resurrection, he was seen as the One who was to come, and according to the Scriptures, this was to be in Bethlehem of Judah. I should mention a Bible favored by many Baptists; it is the Christian Standard Bible (CSB). This is the earliest reference to the town of Bethlehem outside of the Bible. By August 1939, 17% of all German Christians in Palestine were members of the Nazi Party. But straightaway a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet. Micah 5:1 says that Ephrata, Bethlehem is small but no less important. But all the sons of Israel know that she is not my daughter. The day of the Lord shall itself bring it to pass as the Lord will. And he saddled the ass, and set her upon it; and his son led it, and Joseph followed, (Protoevangelium of James, chapter 17). Bible Plans Videos. Fairchild, Mary, Explore Biblical Bethlehem: The City of David and Birthplace of Jesus, (, Golding, Nechama, Rachels Tomb (Kever Rachel), (, Koslaski, Philip, Did Mary ride a donkey to Bethlehem? (, Ancient Jewish History: Judges of Ancient Israel, (, (1) Hermann, Ray, Puzzle Solved: Here is Jesus Birth Date, and the Date of Marys Conception, too., (, Down in Bethlehem, Artist: Purdue Musical Organizations, recorded at the 78th Annual Christmas Show in 2011, (no album, author, licensing, or copyright listed; used under fair use copyright for teaching under Section 107 of Copyright Act of 1976) . He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child (Luke 2:4-5, NRSV).6 And in the Old Testament, there is a prophecy about Jesus being born in Bethlehem of Judea (also known as Bethlehem of Ephrathah).7. According to the Book of Judges12:8, one of the so-called Minor Judges during the early settlement of Israel, Ibzan, came from Bethlehem in Galilee and was buried there. Where God Came Down: The Archaeological Evidence. The first description by archaeologists of the Galilean Bethlehem was in 1880. Who will shepherd My people Israel. Matthew 2:6 NASB, Micah 5:2. Certain archeologists argue that there is no physical evidence of settlement in the famous Bethlehem-of-Judea vicinity 2,000 years ago (though there was much older human activity during prehistoric times) while the Bethlehem in Galilee did have such activity and precisely during that period. Ive never heard of it. The star of Bethlehem was a star of hope that led the wise men to the fulfillment of their expectations, the success of their expedition. Bethlehem of Judea is located about 5 miles (8 km) south of Jerusalem in the tribal area of Judah. No doubt, many a pregnant woman made the trek. These cities with their villages are the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families. The 10th ruler/judge of Israel named Ibzan came from this Bethlehem and later died there with his large family. Where was Jesus born? Close to it is another grotto, where Jerome the Latin father is said to have spent 30 years of his life in translating the Scriptures into Latin. (LogOut/ His three best warriors broke through enemy lines and drew some water for their leader. Bethlehem of Galilee (Hebrew: , Beit Lehem HaGlilit; lit. I am ashamed. and What about Those Miracles? In 1947, they were allowed to emigrate to Australia.[28]. And the central assertion is that everything happened according to the Scriptures, that is, according to the interpretation or according to an interpretation that was transmitted orally and to which Jesus corresponds in the interpretations of the texts. They didnt know what to make of it and the truth of the event was slow to spread. who are one of the little clans of Judah, of David Bethlehem Ephrathah ~ Birthplace of Jesus: Famous for being the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem of Judah is not to be confused with another Bethlehem in Galilee.The Galilean location, Bethlehem of Zebulun (currently Beit Lahm), is referenced in Joshua 91:15, and is located approximately 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Nazareth. In recent years, tourism has replaced agriculture as the main economic branch. (Brigham City: Expedition Bible, 2020), 93. Im glad you enjoyed the article and took the time to comment. . Nehemiah 7:26: 188 men from Bethlehem and Netofa returned, but to which Bethlehem - for as we saw, there are two, Bethlehem in Judea and Bethlehem in Galilee. This is perhaps the oldest existing Christian church in the world. It is also known as Beit-Lahm, i.e., house of flesh. It is about 5 miles south of Jerusalem, standing at an elevation of about 2,550 feet above the sea, thus 100 feet higher than Jerusalem. Just knowing about a second town of Bethlehem in Israel would be impressive to many people, because that is not a well-known fact. See: When did the Luke 2 census occur? Please help. Bethlehem of Judah is located 8 kilometers (5 miles) south-southwest of Jerusalem with an elevation of 762 meters (2500 feet). There appears little reason to doubt its essential trustworthiness.16. So, as was common among the Jews of the day, the holy couple would probably have journeyed far off the "direct" route to avoid Samaria, taking a detour from Galilee across the Jordan River and then back again into Judea farther south. (Brigham City: Expedition Bible, 2020), 92. Evidently he doesnt know or understand scripture, because there are biblical reasons that indicate it was Bethlehem of Judea that was the birth site of our Lord. In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British authorities, Bait Lam had a population of 224; 111 Christians and 113 Muslims. Online: https://biblearchaeology.org/images/articles/Away-in-A-Manger.pdf (Accessed Dec. 6, 2021). Nothing in this world is more fundamental for success in life than hope, and this star pointed to our only source for true hope: Jesus Christ. He was excavating in Bethlehem of Galilee, and said he found evidence, which he believes show that the traditional account of Jesus birthplace may be wrong. He found a Byzantine-era church, with a cave hidden under the apse,1 as well as parts of a wall that may have circled the village and another two-story building that could have been an ancient khan or guesthouse. Much of the original Templer architecture survives, and is similar in style to the homes built by the Templers in other parts of the country, such as Sarona in Tel Aviv, Wilhelma (today Bnei Atarot) and the German colonies of Haifa and Jerusalem. Marys fianc, Joseph, had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. 2 Sam 5:11: And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees and carpenters and masons; and they built David a house. Joseph was a Carpenter; Jesus knew about fishing both trades are found in Tyre. 1 Sam: 17:12: David was the son of a man from Ephrata, Ishai from Bethlehem in Judea. 144 views, 2 likes, 3 loves, 7 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Cornerstone Elim Church: Sunday 11th Dec 2022 10 Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 78. (Brigham City: Expedition Bible, 2020), 92. Thank you from Robert and Irene Reese God Bless. im not sure if this is credible as the bible is silent on this and we know that Joseph and Mary did not consummate their marriage til after the LORD was born. Gen: 35:16: There we read of the birth of Benjamin close to the village of Bethlehem. And Joseph said: I shall enroll my sons, but what shall I do with this maiden? To bring salvation to me and you, If all that what theyre saying is fact Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. It was here in young Davids hometown that the prophet Samuel anointed him to be king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13).8 Also, even earlier in biblical history, the first mention of Bethlehem of Ephrathah is in the first book of the Bible, as the burial site of Jacobs favored wife, Rachel.9 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), (Genesis 35:19). The modern city has many hotels and small shops on narrow, winding streets. Here were the TOP THREE REPORTS IN BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY in October 2022: a geomagnetic study that affirms biblical battles, a stunning mosaic, and possible evidence of a first-century synagogue at Chorazin. Since she wrote instead of phoning, I figured she was at work and was having a discussion with someone about this biblical subject. (apart from a period of "reunification" under the Maccabees), and in the time of Jesus it was under a (supposedly) native Herodian prince, while Judea and Samaria had since A.D. 6 been under the direct rule of a . Thanks for reading the article and taking the time to comment. Territory of Zebulun Now the second Bethlehem, Bethlehem of Galilee, about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) northwest of Nazareth, was always a small community known for farming. The article Mary & Joseph Mother & Foster-Father of Jesus mentions Joseph had six children, four sons and two daughters. Christian faith is post-Easter. He was the last son of Rachel, who died in childbirth. Thus, the chief priests and teachers of the law informed King Herod that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem in Judea (Mt. On its site were seen a few shafts, four of which were still in situ and half covered up. The territories of Judah and Benjamin share borders. [10][11], In 1859, the British consul Rogers stated that the population was 110, and the tillage at sixteen feddans. also known as: Bethlehem of Zebulun, Bethlehem of Galilee, the Galilean Bethlehem, and Beth Lehem Zoria This Bethlehem is mentioned in Joshua 19:15. However, the texts do not claim to give an historical account of Jesus. The city is built on a hill, and many houses are built in front of old caves. Mann in The Anchor Bible, Matthew (New York: Doubleday, 1971), quoted in Gordan Franz, The Slaughter of the Innocents: Historical Fact or Legendary Fiction?Associates for Biblical Research. It is easy to print, download, and email articles. As my wife? A plan God was weaving one who is to rule in Israel, And this has its value. Even an article in The Times of Israel in Jerusalem stated, when he produced his findings for his employer, the Israel Antiquities Authority, he found his proposal dismissed and called worse than a joke.5, The Bible specifically states the city was Bethlehem of Judea. Then it turned from Sarid to the east toward the sunrise as far as the border of Chisloth-tabor, and it proceeded to Daberath and up to Japhia. And they birthed babies along the way, too. 88 views, 2 likes, 8 loves, 29 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from St James Church: Join us for church online this morning at 11:05 am! (LogOut/ Barron, 1923, Table XI, Sub-district of Haifa, p. Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. While it is closer to Nazareth, but one need not imagine that it would be improbable for a woman in Marys state to make the journey to Bethlehem of Judea. A village principally built of adobe on high ground in the border of the wooded country. Ill end with this: your writing is irenic and careful, yet also, inspiring; of good cheer. And theyre calling him the promised Messiah Where God Came Down: The Archaeological Evidence. 16.1 (Feb. 2000), 53. According to the Book of Judges, one of the so-called "Minor Judges" of early settlement Israel, Ibzan, came from Bethlehem and was buried there. On the journey to be taxed In the New Testament Situated in the hill country, it was originally called Ephratah/Ephrath, meaning fruitful (Genesis 35:16, 19; 48:7; Ruth 4:11), and its citizens were called Ephrathites. BethlehemOf Course. Biblical Archaeology Review. This place is first mentioned in Scripture as the place where Jacob/Israels dear wife Rachel died and was buried by the wayside, directly to the north of the city (Genesis 48:7). And behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon. In the text, Jesus goes on to say, I am only sent to the house of Israel., Mark 7:24: And from thence he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. Its history stretches back into Old Testament times, with its first mention in Gen. 35:19, where it is also called Ephrath/Ephrathah. There is a church still existing, built by Constantine the Great (A.D. 330), called the Church of the Nativity, over a grotto or cave called the holy crypt, and said to be the stable in which Jesus was born. God Bless your continued faith in the Holy Bible and in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Historically as well as on a human level, it makes sense that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Galilee, as his family was from Galilee. And historically, was the human person Jesus born there? For the Gospel according toMatthew(chapter 2), Jesus was born in Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy of the Prophet Micah: (5:1) And Bethlehem in the land of Judah is by no means the least of the clans of Judah, for out of thee shall come a ruler that shall feed Israel, even my people., ForLuke(ch. We could say that on the theological level, Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem of Judah, as this is the city from which David came and where he was crowned king of Israel. intheearlierProphets: Answer (1 of 10): Aviram Oshri is right that, in Luke's Gospel, it made no sense for Joseph to take the heavily pregnant Mary all the way from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, especially as the Romans would never have counted a woman. These three parts show well the unity and Gods fidelity to the Covenant with Gods People. A piano teacher named Rene Salm has claimed it didn't. Archaeologists and historians have NOT been kind. "the Galilean Bethlehem") is a moshav in northern Israel. Is that why he had to go there to register according to the call of the Romans? In summarizing the evidence, archaeologist John McRay stated, The tradition that Jesus birth took place in Bethlehem [of Judea] is long and solid. In December 1941 and in the course of 1942 another 400 German internees, mostly wives and children of men who had enlisted in the Wehrmacht, were released - via Turkey - to Germany for the purpose of family reunification. Dear Readers, I've never done this before, but I'm reaching out to ask if you would consider helping me in my quest to excavate at Shiloh, Israel in 2023. [9], In 1517, the village was included in the Ottoman empire, and in the 1596 tax-records it appeared as Bayt Lahm, located in the Nahiya of Tabariyya of the Liwa of Safad. [14], In 1882, the Palestine Exploration Fund's Survey of Western Palestine described it as "The ancient Bethlehem of Zebulon. A new article is published about every 8 to 10 days, but we only send out our Newsletter about twice a month to notify everyone of the newest items posted. More than likely, the routes between cities were crowded with travelers [because of the census]. Until the late 19th century, ruins of a church and a synagogue could be seen there, and archaeological findings "from the early Roman Period"[4] show it was a prosperous city, so the biblical Bethlehem of Zebulon is identified[4] by archaeologists with today's Bethlehem of Galilee. It may not have been easy, but they made the trips anyway. from ancient days, (Micah 5:2). The Coming Great Deception Matthew 24:24, The Magi (Three Kings) a Difference Between Truth and Tradition. Indeed, people from Nazareth made the journey to Jerusalem for the feasts three times per year. 3 Jerome Murphy-OConnor, Where Was Jesus Born? Jeremiah during the Exile. Beginning in the early 1990s, Aviram Oshri spent eleven years excavating the site under contract . Another factor to take into account is that Mary & Joseph made this same journey 12 years later, with Jesus. Also see The Outlaw Bible Students Bible Version Chart at: https://outlawbiblestudent.org/bible-version-chart/. 16 John McRay,Archaeology and the New Testament. We can also see how free the Lord is in his choices: Shaul was not from the tribe of Judah; then the Lord finally chooses David from the tribe of Judah. PLEASE HELP us spread Bible truth by telling others about this website. Netofa is a valley in the Lower Galilee region of Yisreel, midway between Tiberias and Haifa. https://www.npr.org/2012/12/25/168010065/dig-finds-evidence-of-pre-jesus-bethlehem, https://biblearchaeology.org/images/articles/Away-in-A-Manger.pdf, https://biblearchaeology.org/research/chronological-categories/life-and-ministry-of-jesus-and-apostles/2411-the-slaughter-of-the-innocents-historical-fact-or-legendary-fiction, Top Three Reports in Biblical Archaeology November 2022, Top Ten Historical References to Jesus Outside of the Bible, Top Three Reports in Biblical Archaeology October 2022. An archaeological survey of Bethlehem in 1969 produced pottery from various time periods, including the Iron Age II (1000-586 BC), Roman Period (63 BC AD 324), and Byzantine Period (AD 324-638).5, In 2015-2016, excavations near the Church of the Nativity were carried out under the direction of Dr. Shimon Gibson and Dr. Joan Taylor. Not only is this city of Bethlehem the birthplace of Jesus Christ, it is also the renowned City of David. Galilee is an open region, open to the nations, less arid, with vegetation, water. Bethlehem of Galilee is in the north country, near Nazareth, while the other, Bethlehem of Judea, is much further south, near Jerusalem. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem). Nevertheless, I should mention this quote from an apocryphal gospel, from the 2nd century AD, that does mention Mary riding a donkey. 19:15). Mary was pregnant and nearly ready to give birth. Here is the link: https://outlawbiblestudent.org/mary-joseph-mother-foster-father-of-jesus/, Thank you for writing about this. She was a very educated woman, a prolific writer, and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Now, about your last question, concerning Ellen Gould White. Thanks for making plain the issues, and showing some common sense regarding how Mary got to Bethlehem. Joseph hailed from Bethlehem in Judea, and the decree required citizens to register at their birthplaces. Also, i n the West region is the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, nestled on the slopes of the Judean mountains and considered a holy city by two great religions.. TheBooks of Samuel: the Beginning of the Kingship:The second King of Israel, David, comes from the tribe of Judah and from the village of Bethlehem. In the United States, where I live, pioneers settled the west of our country by crossing this vast land in wagons and on horseback, before any automation-like transportation was invented. 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