Bethlehem in Jesus Time

Bethlehem is located five miles south of Jerusalem in the Judaen Mountains. In Jesus time, and over the centuries, shepherding sheep and farming were common occupations. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a manger. It is said that He was born in a cave where shepherds stayed on cold winter nights while watching over their sheep. The manger was filled with hay and this was where Mary and Joseph found refuge for the time when Mary gave birth. Often houses in the Holy Land were built with rooms for the family to live upstairs and their animals to live downstairs, so the place where Mary and Joseph stayed was not unusual, especially for those who were traveling long distances.

Bethlehem was also the place where Rachel's tomb is located. Rachel is the wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and his brother, Benjamin. King David was born in the town of Bethlehem about 1,000 years before Jesus was born; he was a shepherd boy who was skilled in playing the harp and writing poetry. He went on to kill the giant, Goliath, and became the most beloved King of Israel.

Naomi's family also lived in Bethlehem. Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth returned to her homeland after her husband and sons died. It is where Ruth met Boaz and worked gleaning his fields. It is where they were married, and where Onan, King David's grandfather, was born.

Bethlehem was called Ephrath in the Book of Genesis, and has also been called "The City of Bread". Bethlehem has been continuously occupied for over 30 centuries. It is located 5 miles from Jerusalem on the Outer West Bank and has a population of nearly 27,000 people.

One of the most important sites in Bethlehem is the Church of the Nativity. The Church of the Nativity is built over the cave where Jesus was born. The church was dedicated on May 31, 339; it was built with a rectangular opening in the floor that leads to the manger where Jesus was born. If you travel to Bethlehem and tour the Church of the Nativity, you are allowed to view the cave. The city of Bethlehem is one of the most popular cities for tourism today. Below you will see the entrance to the cave where Jesus was born, and also parts of the Church of the Nativity.