Bethlehem

Bethlehem, was a city in Israel, south of Jerusalem in Judah, most notable for being the hometown of David and birthplace of Jesus Christ. David's ancestors Ruth and Boaz were also inhabitants.
== History ==
=== Foundation ===
As with most Israelite cities, the city is eponymous to its founder or ancestor, and its population is heavily based on a family's genealogy. The city originally was called Ephrathah, where it would've been a very small town populated by his family. 
It was populated by Ephrathah's family during the time of Jacob and his wife Rachel. During this period Jacob and Rachel were traveling from Bethel to the city, when Rachel went into labor for a child. As she gave birth to her son Benjamin, she passed away in laborGen 35:16-18, 48:7. Jacob buried her where she died and set up a pillar, on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah1 Sam 10:2. 
In time, Ephrathah had a son named Hur, who had a son named Salma. Salma became the father of a son named Bethlehem1 Chr 2:51, 54; 1 Chr 4:4. This makes Ephrathah the great grandfather of Bethlehem. Once Bethlehem had his own family, the town began to be dominated by his family. His family soon grew where the town began to be called by the dominant ancestor, Bethlehem. It was called this at least before Moses wrote the Book of Genesis. 
Though the town became known as Bethlehem, sometimes the inhabitants of the city were called EphrathitesRuth 1:4, 1 Sam 17:12 and town Bethlehem EphrathahPsa 132:6Micah 5:2. Soon the city became metonymy for the clan of Bethlehem, which lived in the city. The city itself was the region in which the small clan of Bethlehem, part of the Tribe of Judah, inhabitedJudg 17:7. 
=== Days of the Judges ===
==Verses==
Category:Places
Category:Cities
Category:Old Testament Cities
Category:New Testament Cities