Bethlehem | town, West Bank | Britannica.com town, West Bank Alternative Titles: Bayt Laḥm, Bet Leḥem, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Bethlehem-Judah Related Topics Saint Jerome Bethlehem, Arabic Bayt Laḥm (“House of Meat”), Hebrew Bet Leḥem (“House of Bread”), town in the West Bank , situated in the Judaean Hills, 5 miles (8 km) south of Jerusalem . According to the Gospels (Matthew 2; Luke 2), Bethlehem was the site of the nativity of Jesus Christ . Christian theology has linked this with the belief that his birth there fulfills the Old Testament prophecy of Israel’s future ruler coming from Bethlehem Ephrathah (Micah 5:2). Some modern New Testament scholars believe parts of the Gospel accounts to be later accretions and hold that Jesus was born in Nazareth , his childhood home, but normative Christian belief has sanctified Bethlehem as Jesus’ birthplace for almost two millennia. Bethlehem, West Bank. Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity during the traditional Christmas procession in … Nasser Shiyoukhi/AP In the Bible the city is often referred to as Bethlehem Ephrathah, or Bethlehem-Judah.

An ancient settlement, it is possibly mentioned in the Amarna Letters (14th-century-bce diplomatic documents found at Tell el-Amarna , Egypt), but the reading there is uncertain. Bethlehem is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with Rachel , who died on the wayside near there (Genesis 35:19). It is the setting for most of the Book of Ruth and was the presumed birthplace, and certainly the home, of Ruth’s descendant King David; there he was anointed king of Israel by the prophet Samuel (I Samuel 16). The town was fortified by Rehoboam, David’s grandson and the first king of Judah after the division of the state between Israel and Judah (II Chronicles 11). During the Jewish return to Palestine after the Babylonian Exile (516 bce and following), the town was repopulated; later a Roman garrison was there during the Second Jewish Revolt led by Bar Kokhba (135 ce). Similar Topics Janīn The site of the Nativity of Jesus was identified by St.

Justin Martyr , a 2nd-century Christian apologist, as a manger in “a cave close to the village”; the cave, now under the nave of the Church of the Nativity in the heart of the town, has been continuously venerated by Christians since then. St. Helena (c. 248–c. 328), mother of the first Christian Roman emperor ( Constantine I ), had a church built over the cave; later destroyed, it was rebuilt in substantially its present form by Emperor Justinian (reigned 527–565). The Church of the Nativity is thus one of the oldest Christian churches extant . Frequent conflicts have arisen over the jurisdiction of various faiths at the sacred site, often incited by outside interests; thus, for example, the theft in 1847 of the silver star marking the exact traditional locus of the Nativity was an ostensible factor in the international crisis over the holy places that ultimately led to the Crimean War (1854–56). The church was later divided between the Greek Orthodox , Roman Catholic , and Armenian Orthodox faiths.

Greek Orthodox priests and worshippers gather for a mass at the Church of the Nativity in … Kevin Frayer/AP The town has been a monastic centre for centuries; St. Jerome built a monastery there and, with the aid of Palestinian rabbis, translated the Old Testament into Latin from the original Hebrew (5th century ce). This, together with the New Testament, which he had translated from the Greek before going to Palestine, constitutes the Vulgate , the standard Latin translation of the Bible used by the Roman Catholic Church. In modern times, Bethlehem was administered as part of the British mandate of Palestine (1920–48; see Palestine: The British mandate ); after the first of the Arab-Israeli wars in 1948–49, it was in the territory annexed by Jordan in 1950 and placed in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) muḥāfaẓah (governorate). After the Six-Day War of 1967, it was part of the Israeli-occupied territory of the West Bank (see Arab-Israeli wars ). Bethlehem came under control of the Palestinian Authority in the wake of the 1993 Oslo Accords.

Britannica Stories Facts about Bethlehem | Contact Us Facts about Bethlehem Bethlehem is known by most to be the birth place of Jesus Christ but many people don’t know much about the city itself, here are a few basic and interesting facts about this Holy city. Who lives in Bethlehem? Bethlehem has been continually inhabited as far back as the Paleolithic era and since the advent of Christianity there have been Christians in Bethlehem. Today Bethlehem’s population is over 27,000; the residents are predominantly Muslim Arabs with approximately 40% Christian Arabs. Residents of Bethlehem hold Palestinian citizenship. Where did the name Bethlehem come from? In the 14th century BC Bethlehem was a city-state named after the goddess Beit Lahmu. Later it was called Ephrata (Genesis 35:16) and was also referred to in the Hebrew Bible as Beit Lehem. In Hebrew “Beit” means house/home/household and “Lechem” means bread/Manna/nourishment or even battle. Commonly the name is understood to mean House of Bread. In Arabic the name means House of Meat/Flesh. Who controls Bethlehem?

Historically Bethlehem has been conquered and ruled by Romans (132-135), Muslims (c.637); Crusaders (1096-1099); the Sultan of Egypt (1187) and again from 1813-1841 then the Ottomans (1500′s) who ruled for 400 years. In more modern history the British captured the city in the First World War and controlled the city from 1920 to 1948. In the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 Jordan annexed Bethlehem and remained in power there until the Six Day War in 1967. It was during the Six Day War that Israel pushed back the Jordanian border and took control of Bethlehem and the rest of the West Bank. So who controls Bethlehem today? Israel remained in control of the city until 1995 when in compliance with the Oslo Peace Accord control of the city and surrounding West Bank was handed over to the Palestinian National Authority. The Palestinian Authority now has administrative and military control of the city. Is Bethlehem in or near Gaza?

Not at all the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are two completely separate areas when you visit Bethlehem you will not need to enter or go anywhere near Gaza. The Gaza Strip and the West bank are both administered by the Palestinian Authority. So where is Bethlehem, is it in Israel or not? Bethlehem is in the West Bank, which means it is under the Palestinian National Authority. The West Bank is bordered on the west, north and south by Israel and on the east with Jordan, it is called the West Bank as it is on the West Bank of the Jordan River. It is necessary to understand that Israel is a small country and so the driving time from an Israeli town to a West Bank city like Bethlehem can be very short. So what country do I fly to if I want to visit Bethlehem? Most tourists fly to Israel and visit Bethlehem on a day trip from Jerusalem (8km away) or Tel-Aviv. Do you need to cross a border if visiting Bethlehem from Israel? Yes, there is a well run border crossing which sees hundreds of tourists going back and forth every day from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. The process is straight forward but you do need to bring your passport. Is it dangerous to visit Bethlehem?

If there is a specific danger then tours will be canceled but there is a protective military presence and generally there is no problem to visit Bethlehem. Is Bethlehem mentioned in the Old Testament or only the New? In the Old Testament, the “Jewish” Bible, Bethlehem is named as the city King David came from and the place where he was crowned King of Israel. Bethlehem is where the Book of Ruth is set. The city of Bethlehem is also where Rachel gave birth to Benjamin and died (Genesis 48:7). Today her tomb stands near the entrance of the city. In the New Testament Bethlehem is named as the place of Jesus’ birth. If Jesus was born in Bethlehem, was Bethlehem his home town? No, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem from their home town of Nazareth in Northern Israel. They were coming to Bethlehem to be register in a national tax census (Luke 2:1-7), all citizens had to be registered in their city of origin and Joseph was from the house of David, Bethlehem was the city of David. So Nazareth was Jesus’ home town and where he later grew up.

Bethlehem | Virtual Israel Experience Virtual Israel Experience Bethlehem View of Bethlehem Like many cities in Israel and Palestine, Bethlehem is biblically important to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For Jews, Bethlehem (Bet Lechem) is the burial place of the matriarch Rachel and the birthplace of King David . Additionally, Samuel anointed David as king of Israel in Bethlehem ( I Sam. 16:1-13 ) and David's ancestors - Ruth and Boaz - were married in Bethlehem. For Christians, Bethlehem is recognized in the gospels of Matthew and Luke as the birthplace of Jesus and is one of the religions holies sites around the world. The town is inhabited by one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, though many Christians have fled the city out of fear of persecution by the Palestinian Arabs. Bethlehem was first settled by Canaanite tribes who name the city Beit Lahama. They built a temple to the god Lahama on the present mount of the Nativity. Around 1200 BCE, the Philistines had a garrison stationed in Bethlehem because of its strategic location. Following the Israelites rule, the Greeks occupied the region unitl the arrival of the Romans in 160 BCE.

The city, located just 5 miles south of Jerusalem, was turned over to the Palestinian Authority as a result of the 1995 Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement . Bethlehem has a population of roughly 30,000 people, a number which has been in steep decline over the past decade as the majority of Christians in the city have emigrated out of the Palestinian territory. In Hebrew, the town is Bet Lehem ("House of Bread") and in Arabic it is called Bet Lahm ("House of Meat"). For hundreds of years, Christian pilgrims have made the roughly 2½ hour walk from Jerusalem to Manger Square. Today, the trip typically begins at the train station in Abu Tor and proceeds along the Hebron Road. Manger Square is the focus of activity of Christmas celebrations not once, but three times a year. In addition to the traditional Western celebration which begins on December 24, the Greek Orthodox mark their Christmas on January 6 and the Armenian observance is on January 19. The Church of the Nativity The Church of the Nativity was built in the 4th century by the mother of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine.

Helena also was the person responsible for the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem . The present building, the oldest church in Israel/Palestine was reconstructed in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian (527-565) and further repaired by the Crusaders . In 1250, the Ayyubid Dynasty was replaced by the Circassian Mamlukes, ruled by the fanatical Sultan Beibars. In 1263, Beibars ordered the destruction of the fortifying walls and towers of Bethlehem, but the church was spared. During the Turkish occupation in 1517, the Franciscans and the Greeks fought over control of the Sancutaries. Following the War of Independence in 1948, Bethlehem fell under the control of the Jordanians. Then after the 1967 Six Day War, the Israelis took control over Bethlehem. Today, there are many churches present in Bethlehem.

The Greek Orthodox have 15 churches and institutions; the Roman Catholics have 25; there are 8 Protestant churches; the Syriac Orthodox have one church and the Greek Orthodox have two churches; and the Ethiopians and the Copts each have one. There are also several Mosques, including the Mosque of 'Umar, across the street from the Church of the Nativity. This mosque was erected in 1849. The church has a colorful history. When the Persians invaded in 614, they left the church intact, legend has it, because they were moved by a painting inside of the Nativity story depicting the Wise Men of the East in Persian clothes. King Edward IV of England donated wood from English oak trees for the ceiling. He also contributed lead to cover the roof, but that was taken by the Turks, who melted it down to use as ammunition in their war against the Venetians. The entrance to the church is a low doorway that has its own legends. One story is that the door was installed by the Muslims during their rule to remind Christians that they were guests in the country and must bow to their hosts.

An alternative explanation is that the height of the door was designed to prevent unbelievers from entering the church on horseback. Yet another version holds that it was to protect the Christians from their hostile neighbors. The church is divided into five naves by four rows of Corinthian pillars with pictures of the apostles on them. The names are written in Greek and Latin and many visitors have carved their own signatures over the centuries. The floor of the nave has a hole that allows you to see what remains of the Byzantine mosaics that covered the original church floor. The Altar of the Nativity sits below a silver and gold chandelier. Stairways on either side of the main altar lead to a grotto. A fourteen-point silver star embedded in white marble indicates the birthplace of Christ. An inscription reads, Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est ("Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary"). Fifteen lamps burn around the spot. Nearby is the Chapel of the Manger, where Mary placed the baby Jesus . Like the Church of the Holy Sepulcher , various Christian denominations share control over different parts of the church. The grotto is under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church.

The traditional midnight mass celebrated on Christmas Eve is held in St. Catherine's, the Roman Catholic church next door to the Church of the Nativity. This is also the site of several chapels with their own historic and religious significance. The Chapel of St. Jerome is where the Bishop of Bethlehem translated the Old Testament into Latin. The Chapel of the Innocents is devoted to the deaths of the babies killed by Herod. The Chapel of St. Joseph is where an angel appeared to Joseph and commanded him to flee to Egypt. Not far from Manger Square is the Milk Grotto. According to Christian tradition, this is where Mary spilled some milk while nursing Jesus when she was hiding from Herod's soldiers. The milk turned the rocks of the cave a chalk white color. The rock is believed by some to have healing power and to make nursing easier for women.

Other pilgrimage sites include the Shepherds' Fields, where an angel appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus ( Luke 2:8-20 ), the Field of Ruth, where Ruth, the Moabite, gleaned barley from the field for her future husband, Boaz, and David's Wells, three cisterns from which King David longed to drink when the Philistines controlled Bethlehem ( 2 Samuel 23:13-17) . Not far from the churches is a mosque. During the Pope's visit in March 2000, his mass was briefly interrupted by the call to prayer of the Muslim muezzin. According to the Bible, Jacob's wife, Rachel , who had long been unable to conceive, died while giving birth to Benjamin ( Genesis 35:19 ). She is the only Matriarch not buried in Hebron . Rachel's Tomb is inside a domed building built in 1841 by Sir Moses Montefiore . The tomb originally consisted of 11 stones laid flat, with one stone above the others. Legend holds that Jacob's 11 sons placed the first stones and their father added the last one.

Jewish women, in particular, make pilgrimages to the site to pray for children. Muslims also consider the place holy and built a cemetery nearby. The Palestinian Authority pins much of its hopes for attracting tourism to Christian pilgrimages to the birthplace of Jesus. Consequently, million of dollars have been poured into this town to develop roads, shops, hotels and the other necessities for accommodating visitors. Though Rachel's Tomb is also in Bethlehem, and is a site of Jewish veneration, it was never a very popular attraction for Jewish tourists. Now that the city is completely under Palestinian control, it is even less so. Nearby Sights Just south of Bethlehem is another of Herod's palaces. This one, known as Herodian , was built on the flat top of a cone-shaped hill, nearly 2,500 feet (758 meters) above sea level. Herod's architects actually shaped the mountain to make it symmetrical. The fortress was built in the first century, and like Masada , became a stronghold of the Zealots in the Great Revolt against the Romans. It was also used by the Jews during the Bar Kokhba revolt .

Herodian ( WZO ) The palace has 70 foot high walls and towers that rise 100 feet above the floor of the fortress. A synagogue , mikve and storerooms have been excavated on the site. The path to the fortress was originally marked by 200 marble steps. From atop the hill, the palace has a commanding view of the Judean Desert, Dead Sea , Bethlehem and the Jerusalem suburbs. According to the historian Josephus Flavius , Herod was buried here, but his final resting place has not been found. The Mar Saba Monastery was founded by St. Saba of Capadocia in the 5th century. This is a stereotypical monastery where reclusive monks spent years in caves without communicating with anyone. Over the centuries, invaders razed the monastery, but it was rebuilt by the Russian government in 1840. The bones of St. Saba, which had been taken to Venice by the Crusaders , were returned after Pope Paul VI's visit to Israel in 1964 as a goodwill gesture toward the Greek Orthodox Church. The skulls of monks killed through the years are kept in a chapel in the monastery.

Even today, women are not allowed inside the monastery. Two other monasteries are in the Bethlehem area. One is Mar Elias, which was built in the 6th century. According to legend, this is where Elias rested on his flight from the vengeance of Jezebel. The St. Theodosius Monastery was built in 500 C.E. Christians believe the wise men rested here after God warned them in a dream they should not return to Herod. Also south of Bethlehem, on the way to Hebron, are three giant cisterns known as Solomon's Pools. In truth, they are part of a water system built 2,000 years ago during Roman times and used to supply water to Herodian and Jerusalem . Gush Etzion In 1935, Shmuel Holtzman, a citrus grower, started a settlement he called Kfar Etzion . The Arabs destroyed the settlement and crops in 1937 and it was abandoned. In 1943, Jews returned to the area and again planted crops and introduced light industry. By 1948, a group of Jewish settlements had been established that became collectively known as the Etzion Bloc.

During Israel's War of Independence , Arab invaders attacked and killed most of the residents. When one group of 14 Jews were surrounded by Arabs when they attempted to return to Kfar Etzion from Jerusalem, they blew themselves up. Another 35 were killed when they tried to lift the siege on the area. The area, just north of Hebron , was part of Jordan from 1949-1967 and used by the Jordanian army. Following the 1967 war , Jews (many survivors from 1948) returned to resume farming in the area. Local kibbutzim and moshavim have produced turkeys, flowers and candles. Kibbutz Kfar Etzion has a museum recounting the history of the Jews in the settlements. Bethlehem, Bethel Same Place? | whatshotn Bethlehem, Bethel Same Place? Bethlehem (Arabic: بيت لحم‎ Bayt Laḥm “House of Meat” Bēt Laḥm, lit.

“House of Bread”; Hebrew: בֵּית לֶחֶם Bēṯ Leḥem, Modern: Bet Leḥem [bet ˈleχem], lit. “House of Bread”; Ancient Greek: Βηθλεέμ [bɛːtʰle.ém]) is a Palestinian city located in the central West Bank, about 10 kilometers south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate. The economy is primarily tourist-driven. It is thought the original name was Beit Lachama, from the Canaanite god Lachama. The earliest mention of the city is in the Amarna correspondence c.1350-1330 BC as “Bit-Lahmi”. The city of Bethlehem, located about six miles southwest of Jerusalem, is the birthplace of our Savior Jesus Christ. Bethlehem was also the renowned City of David. The Hebrew Bible identifies as there in young David’s hometown that the prophet Samuel anointed him to be king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13). The city is inhabited by one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.

Control of Bethlehem passed from the Ottoman Empire to the British Empire at the end of World War I. Pursuant to the proposed United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine of November 1947, Bethlehem was to be included in an international zone, controlled by Britain. The Arab League states rejected the Partition Plan, and launched the 1948 Arab-Israeli War to prevent the creation of a Jewish state. During the war Jordan forcibly seized Bethlehem and occupied it – Jordan claimed to annex the west bank territories in 1950, though this was only ever formally recognized by Britain. Bethlehem was captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, and since 1995 – per the Oslo Accords – Bethlehem has been governed by the Palestinian National Authority.

Israelite and Judean period Archaeological confirmation of Bethlehem as an Israelite city was uncovered in 2012 at the archaeological dig at the City of David in the form of a bulla (seal impression in dried clay) in ancient Hebrew script that reads “From the town of Bethlehem to the King,” indicating that it was used to seal the string closing a shipment of grain, wine, or other goods sent as a tax payment in the 8th or 7th century BC. Biblical scholars believe Bethlehem, located in the “hill country” of Judah, may be the same as the Biblical Ephrath, which means “fertile”, as there is a reference to it in the Book of Micah as Bethlehem Ephratah. The Bible also calls it Beth-Lehem Judah, and the New Testament describes it as the “City of David”. It is first mentioned in the Tanakh and the Bible as the place where the matriarch Rachel died and was buried “by the wayside” (Gen. 48:7). Rachel’s Tomb, the traditional grave site, stands at the entrance to Bethlehem.

According to the Book of Ruth, the valley to the east is where Ruth of Moab gleaned the fields and returned to town with Naomi. It was the home of Jesse, father of King David of Israel, and the site of David’s anointment by the prophet Samuel. It was from the well of Bethlehem that three of his warriors brought him water when he was hiding in the cave of Adullam. Micah 5:2-5 King James Version (KJV) 2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. Bethlehem in the Old Testament In the Old Testament, Bethlehem was an early Canaanite settlement connected with the patriarchs. Situated along an ancient caravan route, Bethlehem has harbored a melting pot of peoples and cultures since its beginning. The geography of the region is mountainous, sitting about 2,600 feet above the Mediterranean Sea. In times past, Bethlehem was also called Ephrathah or Bethlehem-Judah to distinguish it from a second Bethlehem located in Zebulunite territory. It was first mentioned in Genesis 35, as the burial site of Rachel, Jacob’s favored wife. Genesis 35:19 King James Version (KJV) 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. Members of Caleb’s family settled in Bethlehem, including Caleb’s son Salma who was called the “founder” or “father” of Bethlehem in 1 Chronicles 2:51.

The Levite priest who served in the house of Micah was from Bethlehem. And the Levite of Ephraim brought home a concubine from Bethlehem. Judges 17:7-13King James Version (KJV) 7 And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 8 And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. 9 And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place. 10 And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.

11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. 12 And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 13 Then said Micah, Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest. Judges 19:1King James Version (KJV) 19 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah. The poignant story of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz from the book of Ruth is set primarily around the town of Bethlehem. King David, the great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz was born and raised in Bethlehem, and there David’s mighty men lived. Bethlehem eventually came to be called the City of David as the symbol of his great dynasty, and it grew into an important, strategic, and fortified city under King Rehoboam.

In addition, Bethlehem is noted in connection with the Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 41:17, Ezra 2:21), as some of the Jews returning from captivity stayed near Bethlehem on their way to Egypt. Bethlehem in the New Testament By the time of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem had declined in significance to a small village. Three gospel accounts (Matthew 2:1–12, Luke 2:4–20, and John 7:42) report that Jesus was born in the humble town of Bethlehem. In summary, around the time Mary was due to give birth, Caesar Augustus decreed that a census be taken. Every person in the entire Roman world had to go to his own town to register. Joseph, being of the line of David, was required to go to Bethlehem to register with Mary. While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus. Most likely due to the census, the inn was too crowded, and Mary gave birth in a crude stable. First shepherds and later wise men came to Bethlehem to worship the Christ-child.

King Herod who was ruler in Judea, plotted to kill the baby-king, ordering the slaughter of all male children two years old and younger in Bethlehem and surrounding areas. Matthew 2:16-18King James Version (KJV) 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Christmas celebrations Christmas rites are held in Bethlehem on three different dates: December 25 is the traditional date by the Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations, but Greek, Coptic and Syrian Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 6 and Armenian Orthodox Christians on January 19. Most Christmas processions pass through Manger Square, the plaza outside the Basilica of the Nativity.

Roman Catholic services take place in St. Catherine’s Church and Protestants often hold services at Shepherds’ Fields. Present Day Bethlehem Today, approximately 60,000 people live in and around the broader Bethlehem area. The population is divided primarily between Muslims and Christians, the Christians being predominately Orthodox . Under control of the Palestinian National Authority since 1995, Bethlehem city has experienced chaotic growth and a constant flow of tourism. It is home to one of the most sacred Christian sites in the world. Built by Constantine the Great (circa 330 A.D.), the Church of the Nativity still stands over a cave believed to be the very spot where Jesus was born. The place of the manger is marked by a 14-pointed silver star, called the star of Bethlehem. The original Church of the Nativity structure was partially destroyed by the Samaritans in 529 A.D. and then rebuilt by the Byzantine Roman emperor Justinian. It is one of the oldest surviving Christian churches in existence today.

Bethel Ugaritic: bt il, meaning “House of El” or “House of God”, Hebrew: בֵּית אֵל, also transliterated Beth El, Beth-El, or Beit El; Greek: Βαιθηλ; Latin: Bethel) was a border city described in the Hebrew Bible as being located between Benjamin and Ephraim and also a location named by Jacob. Edward Robinson identified the village of Beitin in the West Bank with ancient Bethel in Biblical Researches in Palestine, 1838–52. He based this assessment on its fitting the location described in earlier texts, and on the philological similarities between the modern and ancient name, arguing that the replacement of the Hebrew el with the Arabic in was not unusual. During Israelite rule, Bethel first belonged to the Tribe of Benjamin, but was later conquered by the Tribe of Ephraim. Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome describe it in their time as a small village that lay 12 Roman miles north of Jerusalem, to the right or east of the road leading to Neapolis.

Ten years after the Six Day War, the biblical name was applied to an Israeli settlement Beit El constructed adjacent to Beitin. In several countries – particularly in the US – the name was given to various locations. A second biblical Bethel, in the southern Judah, is mentioned in the Book of Joshua (Joshua 8:17 and Joshua 12:16), and seems to be the same as Bethul or Bethuel, a city of the tribe of Simeon. Located about ten miles north of Jerusalem, famous for its shrine. According to the biblical account, altars were established at Bethel by both Abraham and Jacob, and the latter described it as a place of awesome spiritual power (Gen. 28:17). Bethel also housed the Ark of the Covenant during the period of the judges, when it was also a sacred place to offer sacrifices to God and receive oracles from God. During the period of divided kingdoms, Bethel was an official shrine of the northern Kingdom of Israel, founded by Jeroboam I as a pilgrimage site competing with the southern Temple of Jerusalem. As such, it was the subject of intense criticism by the biblical writers.

The prophets condemned its allegedly decadent priesthood, and it was accused by writers of Kings and Chronicles of housing an idolatrous statue of a golden bull calf. The shrine was thus destroyed by King Josiah of Judah during his reforms of the seventh century B.C. Bethel nevertheless remains a sacred place in the collective memory of both Jews and Christians. Bethel was known as Luz in pre-Israelite times (Gen. 28:19). The name “Bethel” (beit el) means the “house (or place) of God.” Abraham, according to Genesis 7:8, built an altar east of Bethel shortly after arriving in Canaan from Haran. Later, Jacob, believing the place to be the “gate of heaven,” named it Bethel. He is depicted as erecting a sacred pillar there shortly after having the dream of “Jacob’s Ladder” (Gen. 28:18). The early shrine was apparently outside of the town of Luz, probably at a “high place.” The exact location of either the primitive altar or later shrine at Bethel remains undetermined by archaeologists, although some believe the town may have been uncovered.

Joshua and Judges In the Book of Joshua, Bethel was temporarily abandoned by the Canaanites when Joshua’s forces encamped between Ai and Bethel and drew its residents out (Josh. 8:17). The king of Bethel is listed among 31 monarchs reportedly conquered by Joshua and the Israelites (Josh. 12). The fate of the residents of Bethel is not mentioned, but the citizens of nearby Ai were reportedly all slaughtered by the Israelites. It may be notable that, in renewing the covenant between God and the people in Canaan, Joshua bypassed the ancient altar at Bethel in favor of constructing a new shrine at Mount Ebal, opposite Mount Gerezim, near Shechem. Bethel was of particular importance in the period of the Judges. As the narrative of the Book of Judges opens (1:22-26), Bethel was not in Israelite hands. Still apparently known as Luz, it still had to be captured by the Tribe of Joseph (which included both Ephraim and Manasseh). Later, the judge Deborah held court near Bethel in the territory of Ephraim (Judg. 4).

During a time of bitter warfare between the Tribe of Benjamin and the other tribes, Bethel was known as a holy place where oracles from Yahweh could be received. The sacred Ark of the Covenant resided there, and the priest Phinehas, a grandson of Aaron, was its minister. Thus: The Israelites went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They said, “Who of us shall go first to fight against the Benjaminites?” The Lord replied, “Judah shall go first.” (Judg. 20:18) When the Israelites suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of Benjamin, they returned to Bethel to weep, fast, and pray “before the Lord.” Directed again by Yahweh to attack, this time they won a mighty victory. The shrine at Shiloh, a few miles north of Bethel, housed the Ark during the ministry of the judge Eli and his sons, but Bethel was still prominent. The prophet Samuel’s circuit included a stop at the shrine, and 1 Samuel 10:3 identifies Bethel as a holy place where people offered sacrifices to God.

The future king David sent gifts to certain elders of the Tribe of Judah residing at Bethel to gain their favor (1 Sam. 30:27). We do not hear of Bethel again until it assumed a far different role in the biblical narrative. Bethel is mentioned several times in Genesis. It is first mentioned in Genesis 12, but the best-known instance is probably Genesis 28, when Jacob, fleeing from the wrath of his brother Esau, falls asleep on a stone and dreams of a ladder stretching between Heaven and Earth and thronged with angels; God stands at the top of the ladder, and promises Jacob the land of Canaan; when Jacob awakes he anoints the stone (baetylus) with oil and names the place Bethel. Another account, from Genesis 35 repeats the covenant with God and the naming of the place (as El-Bethel), and makes this the site of Jacob’s own change of name to Israel. Both versions state that the original name of the place was Luz, a Canaanite name. Bethel was an important religious center for the northern Kingdom of Israel following the break-up of the united kingdom of David and Solomon.

The Second Book of Kings describes how Jeroboam, first king of Israel, set up centers for Golden Calf worshippers at Bethel on the southern boundary of his kingdom and Dan on the northern boundary, and appointed non-Levites as his priests (1 Kings 12:25–33). Jeroboam’s decision to pass over the Mushite priests of Shiloh, the original religious center for Israel, deeply offended the Shiloh priesthood and seems to lie behind much of the animosity directed at Jeroboam and the golden calf, which probably emanated from the Mushite priestly clan. Bethel escaped destruction during the Assyrian conquest of Israel (721 BC), but was occupied by King Josiah of Judah (c.640–609 BC), who, according to the book of Kings, destroyed the ancient Israelite religious center. Bethel was again inhabited and “fortified by Bacchides the Syrian in the time of the Maccabees.” Josephus tells us that Bethel was captured by Vespasian. Robinson notes that after the writings of Eusebius and Jerome, he found no further references to Bethel in the written historical record.

However, he notes that the ruins at Beitin are greater than those of a village and seem to have undergone expansion after the time of Jerome, noting also the presence of what appear to be ruins of churches from the Middle Ages. Bethel vs. Jerusalem After the establishment of the Israelite monarchy and its subsequent division under Rehoboam of Judah and Jeroboam I of Israel, Bethel became a center of controversy. Jeroboam expanded and improved the shrine, hoping to make it—together with a major northern altar in the territory of Dan—a spiritual center of his kingdom. The Bethel shrine also competed spiritually and financially with the Temple of Jerusalem. In dedicating the new altar at Bethel, Jeroboam is quoted as declaring to his people: “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem.” His next sentence could have been one of several meanings depending on how it is translated.

The Hebrew reads: “‘elohiym Yisra’el `alah ‘erets Mitsrayim.” Its probable intent was “God who brought you out of the land of Egypt is here (in Bethel).” Its usual translation is “Here are your gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” While Jeroboam clearly intended the shrine to be devoted to Yahweh (or El, the two names now referring to the same deity), the biblical account portrays Bethel, from this point on, to be a center of idolatry. The focus of this accusation was the golden (possibly bronze) statue of a bull calf erected by Jeroboam to adorn the shrine’s entrance. Despite this, Yahwist prophets continued to reside at Bethel (2 Kings 2:3). However, the earliest literary prophets name Bethel as one of the centers of Israelite spiritual degeneracy (Amos 3:4, 4:4-5; Hosea 4-15, etc.). Amos’ famous denunciation is directed at this shrine, along with those of Gilgal and Beersheba.

Amos 5:21-22King James Version (KJV) 21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Throughout the narrative in Kings and Chronicles, the kings of Israel are condemned for repeating the idolatrous “sin of Jeroboam” in failing to shut down Bethel’s shrine. Even King Jehu, who “destroyed Baal worship in Israel,” was criticized because: “He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan” (2 Kings 10:29). It has come to my attention that from Bethel came the oracles of God, Whereas Babylon is the seat of the devil. What that means right now I do not know.

Name(required) Beit Lechem - The Israel Bible Beit Lechem Beth-lehem, bayt LE-khem, בֵּית לֶחֶם Related Articles: This article is about the city in the West Bank . For other uses, see Bethlehem (disambiguation) .

Bethlehem Bethlehem Location of Bethlehem within the Palestinian territories Coordinates: 31°42′11″N 35°11′44″E﻿ / ﻿31.70306°N 35.19556°E﻿ / 31.70306; 35.19556 Coordinates : 31°42′11″N 35°11′44″E﻿ / ﻿31.70306°N 35.19556°E﻿ / 31.70306; 35.19556 Governorate Bethlehem Founded 1400 BCE (est.) Government • Type City (from 1995) • Head of Municipality Vera Baboun Area • Jurisdiction 10,611 dunams (10.611 km2 or 4.097 sq mi) Population (2007) • Jurisdiction 25,266 Name meaning House of Meat (Arabic); House of Bread (Hebrew & Aramaic) Website Bethlehem ( Arabic : ب

يت لحم‎‎ Bet Lehem [bet ˈleχem] , lit.

"House of Bread"; Ancient Greek : Βηθλεέμ [bɛːtʰle.ém] ; Latin : Bethleem) is a Palestinian city located in the central West Bank , Palestine , about 10 km (6.2 miles) south of Jerusalem . Its population is approximately 25,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate . The economy is primarily tourist-driven . The earliest known mention of the city was in the Amarna correspondence of 1350–1330 BCE during its habitation by the Canaanites . The Hebrew Bible , which says that the city of Bethlehem was built up as a fortified city by Rehoboam , identifies it as the city David was from and where he was crowned as the king of Israel . The New Testament identifies Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus . Bethlehem was destroyed by the Emperor Hadrian during the second-century Bar Kokhba revolt ; its rebuilding was promoted by Empress Helena , mother of Constantine the Great , who commissioned the building of its great Church of the Nativity in 327 CE.

The church was badly damaged by the Samaritans , who sacked it during a revolt in 529, but was rebuilt a century later by Emperor Justinian I . Bethlehem became part of Jund Filastin following the Muslim conquest in 637. Muslim rule continued in Bethlehem until its conquest in 1099 by a crusading army , who replaced the town's Greek Orthodox clergy with a Latin one. In the mid-13th century, the Mamluks demolished the city's walls, which were subsequently rebuilt under the Ottomans in the early 16th century. Control of Bethlehem passed from the Ottomans to the British at the end of World War I . Bethlehem came under Jordanian rule during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and was later captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War . Since the 1995 Oslo Accords , Bethlehem has been administered by the Palestinian Authority . Bethlehem now has a Muslim majority, but is still home to a significant Palestinian Christian community.

Bethlehem's chief economic sector is tourism, which peaks during the Christmas season when Christians make pilgrimage to the Church of the Nativity , as they have done for almost 2,000 years. Bethlehem has over 30 hotels and 300 handicraft workshops. Rachel's Tomb , an important Jewish holy site, is located at the northern entrance of Bethlehem. Zionist Boots in Bethlehem: Humus with Teargas Series (Occupied Palestine) - - YouTube Zionist Boots in Bethlehem: Humus with Teargas Series (Occupied Palestine) - Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Sep 23, 2014 Bethlehem (Arabic: بيت لحم‎ About this sound Bayt Laḥm (help·info) "House of Meat" Bēt Laḥm, lit.

"House of Bread"; Hebrew: בֵּית לֶחֶם Bēṯ Leḥem, Modern: Bet Leḥem [bet ˈleχem], lit. "House of Bread"; Ancient Greek: Βηθλεέμ [bɛːtʰle.ém]) is a Palestinian city located in the central West Bank, about 10 kilometers (six miles) south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000 people.[4][5] It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate. The economy is primarily tourist-driven.[6][7] It is thought the original name was Beit Lachama, from the Canaanite god Lachama. The earliest mention of the city is in the Amarna correspondence c.1350-1330 BCE as "Bit-Lahmi". The Hebrew Bible identifies it as the city David was from and where he was crowned as the king of Israel. The New Testament identifies Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus. The city is inhabited by one of the oldest Christian communities in the world[citation needed], although the size of the community has shrunk due to emigration.

Bethlehem was destroyed by the Emperor Hadrian during the second-century Bar Kokhba revolt; its rebuilding was promoted by the Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, who commissioned the building of its great Church of the Nativity in 327 CE. The Church was badly damaged by the Samaritans, who sacked it during the Samaritan Revolt in 529, but was rebuilt a century later by the emperor Justinian I, in very much its present form. Bethlehem was seized by the Arab Caliphate of 'Umar ibn al-Khattāb during the Arab conquest in 637, seized again by Egypt and then the Seljuks, and, in 1099, by Crusaders, who replaced its Greek Orthodox clergy with a Latin one. In the mid-13th century, invading Mamluks demolished the city's walls, which were subsequently rebuilt in the early 16th century, after Bethlehem became part of the Ottoman Empire.[8] Control of Bethlehem passed from the Ottoman Empire to the British Empire at the end of World War I.

Pursuant to the proposed United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine of November 1947, Bethlehem was to be included in an international zone, controlled by Britain. The Arab states rejected the Partition Plan, and during the ensuing 1948 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the "First Arab-Israeli War", launched by the Arab League states to prevent the creation of a Jewish state and a second Arab state in Palestine, Jordan forcibly seized Bethlehem and formally annexed it in 1950. It was captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. Since 1995, when Israel ceded it to the PLO, Bethlehem has been governed by the Palestinian National Authority.[8] Bethlehem has a Muslim majority, but is also home to one of the largest Palestinian Christian communities[citation needed]. Originally, Bethlehem was a lodging point for Jewish pilgrims to Jerusalem during the three holiest days of the Jewish year. Bethlehem's chief economic sector is tourism which peaks during the Christmas season when Christians make pilgrimage to the Church of the Nativity, as they have done for almost two millennia.

Bethlehem has over thirty hotels and three hundred handicraft work shops.[9] Rachel's Tomb, an important Jewish holy site, is located at the northern entrance of Bethlehem Category

Question: What ancient seminal Palestinian city is 'house of meat' in Arabic, and 'house of bread' in Hebrew?
Answer: Bethlehem