Bethlehem

How Nave’s arranged it

• 1. A city southwest of JerusalemJudges 17:7Judges 19:18
• Called EPHRATAH and EPHRATHGenesis 48:7Psalms 132:6Micah 5:2
• And BETH-LEHEM-JUDAHJudges 17:7–9Judges 19:1Judges 19:18Ruth 1:11 Samuel 17:12
• Rachel dies and is buried atGenesis 35:16Genesis 35:19Genesis 48:7
• The city of BoazRuth 1:1Ruth 1:19Ruth 2:4Ruth 4
• Taken and held by the Philistines2 Samuel 23:14–16
• Jeroboam converts it into a military stronghold2 Chronicles 11:6
• The city of JosephMatthew 2:5Matthew 2:6Luke 2:4
• Birthplace of JesusMicah 5:2Matthew 2Luke 2:4Luke 2:15
• Herod murders the infants ofMatthew 2:16–18
• 2. A town of Zebulun, six miles west of NazarethJoshua 19:15
• Israel judged atJudges 12:10

The passages, in Bible order (23)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 35:16

   Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 35:161 voice

   “There was but a little way to come to Ephrath - The word כברת kibrath, translated here a little way, has greatly perplexed commentators. It occurs only here, in Gen 48:7, and 2Ki 5:19; and it seems to have been some sort of measure applied to land, as we say a mile, an acre, a rood, a perch; but what the exact quantity of the kibrath was cannot be ascertained. Ephrath, called also Bethlehem, and Bethlehem Ephrata, was the birthplace of our blessed Redeemer. See its meaning Mat 2:6 (note).

   Everything gathered on Genesis 35:16→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 35:19

   So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

   ›Commentary on Genesis 35:191 voice

   “And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. Hence called Bethlehem Ephratah, Mic 5:2; with great pertinency is Rachel represented as if risen from her grave, and weeping for her children, when the children of Bethlehem, and thereabout, were slain by Herod, she being buried so near that place, Mat 2:16; at what age she died is not said. Polyhistor, out of Demetrius (d), reports, that she died after Jacob had lived with her twenty three years. (d) Apnd Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 21. p. 424.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 35:19→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Genesis 48:7

   Now as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way in the land of Canaan, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Joshua 19:15

   It also included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem. There were twelve cities, along with their villages.

   ›Commentary on Joshua 19:152 voices

   “Beth-lehem - Not that where Christ was born, which was in Judah, but another. Twelve cities - There are more numbered here, but the rest either were not cities properly so called, or were not within this tribe, but only bordering upon it, and belonging to other tribes.

   “Twelve cities - Only five have been mentioned, and the names in the verses preceding are apparently not names of Zebulonite cities, but merely of points in or near the boundary line. It would therefore appear that seven names have disappeared from the text, and perhaps also the definition of the western frontier.

   Everything gathered on Joshua 19:15→

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5. Judges 12:10

   Then Ibzan died, and he was buried in Bethlehem.

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Judges 17:7

   And there was a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah who had been residing within the clan of Judah.

   ›Commentary on Judges 17:71 voice

   The Hebrew words for “he sojourned there” are, שׁם גר gêr shām, which words are used Jdg 18:30 in the genealogy of this young Levite, whose name was “Jonathan, the son of Gershom” (גרשׁם gêreshôm). Hence, some read here, “the son of Gershom.”

   Everything gathered on Judges 17:7→

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7. Judges 19:1

   Now in those days, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite who lived in the remote hill country of Ephraim took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.

   ›Commentary on Judges 19:11 voice

   “It was no disreputable connection this Levite had formed; for a nuptial engagement with a concubine wife (though, as wanting in some outward ceremonies, it was reckoned a secondary or inferior relationship) possessed the true essence of marriage; it was not only lawful, but sanctioned by the example of many good men.

   Everything gathered on Judges 19:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Judges 19:18

   The Levite replied, “We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and now I am going to the house of the LORD; but no one has taken me into his home,

   ›Commentary on Judges 19:181 voice

   “The house of the Lord - Probably at Shiloh (marginal references). The Levite was probably one of those who ministered at the tabernacle. His two donkeys and servant show him to have been in good circumstances, and he had a home of his own.

   Everything gathered on Judges 19:18→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Ruth 1:1

   In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.

   ›Commentary on Ruth 1:12 voices

   “Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled,.... So that it appears that this history is of time and things after the affair of Micah, and of the concubine of the Levite, and of the war between Israel and Benjamin; for in those times there was no king nor judge in Israel; but to what time of the judges, and which government of theirs it belongs to, is not agreed on.

   “In the days when the Judges ruled - “Judged.” This note of time, like that in Rth 4:7; Jdg 18:1; Jdg 17:6, indicates that this Book was written after the rule of the judges had ceased. The genealogy Rth 4:17-22 points to the time of David as the earliest when the Book of Ruth could have been written. A famine - Caused probably by one of the hostile invasions recorded in the Book of Judges.

   Everything gathered on Ruth 1:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Ruth 1:19

    So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

    ›Commentary on Ruth 1:191 voice

    “All the city was moved about them - It appears that Naomi was not only well known, but highly respected also at Bethlehem; a proof that Elimelech was of high consideration in that place.

    Everything gathered on Ruth 1:19→

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11. Ruth 2:4

    Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied.

    ›Commentary on Ruth 2:41 voice

    Boaz came from Beth-lehem - This salutation between Boaz and his reapers is worthy of particular regard; he said, יהוה עמחם Yehovah immachem, “Jehovah be with you!” They said, יברכך יהוה yebarechecha Yehovah, “May Jehovah bless thee!” Can a pious mind read these godly salutations without wishing for a return of those simple primitive times? The words may be thus paraphrased: “May God be with you, to preserve you from accidents, and strengthen you to accomplish your work!” “May God bless Thee with the increase of the field, and grace to use his bounty to the glory of the Giver!”

    Everything gathered on Ruth 2:4→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Ruth 4:1

    Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

    ›Commentary on Ruth 4:12 voices

    “Then went Boaz up to the gate of the city--a roofed building, unenclosed by walls; the place where, in ancient times, and in many Eastern towns still, all business transactions are made, and where, therefore, the kinsman was most likely to be found.

    “The gate is the place of concourse, of business, and of justice in Oriental cities (see Jdg 19:15 note; Gen 34:20; Deu 16:18). Ho, such a one! - Indicating that the name of the kinsman was either unknown or purposely concealed 1Sa 21:2; 2Ki 6:8.

    Everything gathered on Ruth 4:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. 1 Samuel 17:12

    Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons in the days of Saul. And Jesse was old and well along in years.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:122 voices

    “David, however, was the son of an Ephrathite man. David indeed, as always, is the Lord Christ, who is the son of an Ephrathite man, that is, a fruitful one; because from that ancient people of the Hebrews, who by believing bore many fruits of …

    “The 12th verse, to the 31st inclusive, are wanting in the Septuagint; as also the 41st verse; and from the 54th to the end; with the first five verses of 1 Samuel 18, and the 9th, 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, and 19th of the same. All these parts are found in the Codex Alexandrinus; but it appears that the MS. from which the Codex Alexandrinus was copied, had them not. See observations at the end of this chapter, 1Sa 17:58 (note). Dr. Kennicott has rendered it very probable that these portions are not a genuine part of the text.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 17:12→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. 2 Samuel 23:14–16

    At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 23:14–162 voices

    “And David was then in an hold,.... In a strong hold; the strong hold of Zion, as Josephus (x), or one on a rock near the cave of Adullam, see 1Ch 11:15, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem; which was about six miles from Jerusalem; the valley of Rephaim lay between that and Bethlehem; so far had they got into the land of Judea, and such footing in it, as to have a garrison so near its metropolis. (x) Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. sect. 4.

    “In an hold - In “the hold” 1Ch 11:16 close to the cave of Adullam (marginal reference note). It shows the power and daring of the Philistines that they should hold a post so far in the country as Bethlehem.

    Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 23:14–16→

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15. 2 Chronicles 11:6

    He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

    ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 11:61 voice

    “He built even Bethlehem,.... The place of our Lord's birth, about six miles from Jerusalem: and Etam; another city in the tribe of Judah; see 1Ch 4:32, there was a rock of this name, Jdg 15:8 and a fountain from whence waters were conveyed into the pool at Jerusalem, spoken of in Jewish writings (b): and Tekoah; of which place Amos the prophet was, and which was about twelve miles from Jerusalem.

    Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 11:6→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. Psalms 132:6

    We heard that the ark was in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

    ›Commentary on Psalms 132:62 voices

    “Behold, we heard of it in Ephrata. In the Hebrew it does not have "it," but has "him": that is, that one who is to be born of the seed of David. We heard of him in Ephrata: which the sense is about Mary. But we can also understand it simply, since Ephrata is called Bethlehem, and Christ was born in Bethlehem. Happy therefore the place, which so long a time before was sung by the voice of the prophets.

    “These may be the "words of David" and his pious friends, who, at Ephratah--or Beth-lehem (Ge 48:7), where he once lived, may have heard of the ark, which he found for the first time in the fields of the wood--or, Jair, or Kirjath-jearim ("City of woods") (1Sa 7:1; 2Sa 6:3, 4), whence it was brought to Zion.

    Everything gathered on Psalms 132:6→

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