READING THE BIBLE CHRONOLOGICALLY STARTING DECEMBER 1, 2011

Bethlehem

Mat 2:1

Mat_2:1-12. Visit of the Magi to Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
The wise men reach Jerusalem - The Sanhedrim, on Herod’s demand, pronounce Bethlehem to be Messiah’s predicted birthplace (Mat_2:1-6).
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea — so called to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun, near the Sea of Galilee (Jos_19:15); called also Beth-lehem-judah, as being in that tribe (Jdg_17:7); and Ephrath (Gen_35:16); and combining both, Beth-lehem Ephratah (Mic_5:2). It lay about six miles southwest of Jerusalem. But how came Joseph and Mary to remove thither from Nazareth, the place of their residence? Not of their own accord, and certainly not with the view of fulfilling the prophecy regarding Messiah’s birthplace; nay, they stayed at Nazareth till it was almost too late for Mary to travel with safety; nor would they have stirred from it at all, had not an order which left them no choice forced them to the appointed place. A high hand was in all these movements. (See on Luk_2:1-6).
in the days of Herod the king — styled the Great; son of Antipater, an Edomite, made king by the Romans. Thus was “the sceptre departing from Judah” (Gen_49:10), a sign that Messiah was now at hand. As Herod is known to have died in the year of Rome 750, in the fourth year before the commencement of our Christian era, the birth of Christ must be dated four years before the date usually assigned to it, even if He was born within the year of Herod’s death, as it is next to certain that He was.
there came wise men — literally, “Magi” or “Magians,” probably of the learned class who cultivated astrology and kindred sciences. Balaam’s prophecy (Num_24:17), and perhaps Daniel’s (Dan_9:24, etc.), might have come down to them by tradition; but nothing definite is known of them.
from the east — but whether from Arabia, Persia, or Mesopotamia is uncertain.
to Jerusalem — as the Jewish metropolis.


In the New Testament Bethlehem is mentioned as the birthplace of the Messiah Jesus (Mat_2:1, Mat_2:5; Luk_2:4, Luk_2:25) in consequence of which event occurred Herod's “massacre of the innocents” (Mat_2:8, 26). Inasmuch as Hadrian devastated Bethlehem and set up there a sacred grove to Adonis (Jerome, Ep. ad Paul, lviii.3) it is clear that veneration of this spot as the site of the Nativity must go back before 132 ad. Constantine (circa 330) founded a basilica over the cave-stable which tradition pointed out as the scene of the birth, and his church, unchanged in general structure though enlarged by Justinian and frequently adorned, repaired and damaged, remains today the chief attraction of the town. During the Crusades, Bethlehem became of great importance and prosperity; it remained in Christian hands after the overthrow of the Latin kingdom, and at the present day it is in material things one of the most prosperous Christian centers in the Holy Land.



A rich altar is over the supposed site of the Savior's birth, and a star of silver inlaid in white marble, with the inscription "Hie de virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est." A manger too is there of white marble (Luk_2:12). Jerome's sepulchre is near; Bethlehem being where he lived for 30 years, and diligently studied the Hebrew Scriptures, to prepare the Vulgate translation. In Mic_5:2, "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" seems to contradict Mat_2:6, "Thou art not the least among the princes of Juda."

Bethlehem

Intact ancient tomb uncovered in Bethlehem

June 23, 2009 By NASSER SHIYOUKHI , Associated Press Writer

Enlarge

In this photo taken Monday, June 22, 2009, a worker of the Palestinian ministry of Tourism looks at pieces of pottery that were from the early Bronze age and were found recently in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Workers renovating a house in the town of Jesus' birth accidentally discovered an untouched ancient tomb containing clay pots, plates, beads and the bones of two humans, an official from the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said on Tuesday, June, 23, 2009. (AP Photo/ Tara Todras-Whitehill)

(AP) -- Workers renovating a house in the traditional town of Jesus' birth accidentally discovered an untouched ancient tomb containing clay pots, plates, beads and the bones of two humans, a Palestinian antiquities official said Tuesday.

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The 4,000-year-old tomb provides a glimpse of the burial customs of the area's inhabitants during the Canaanite period, said Mohammed Ghayyada, director of the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Workers in a house near the Church of the Nativity uncovered a hole leading to the grave, which was about one meter (yard) below ground, he said. They contacted antiquities officials, who photographed the grave intact before removing its contents.

They dated the grave to the Early Bronze Age, between 1,900 B.C. and 2,200 B.C.

Jerusalem-based archaeologist and historian Stephen Pfann called the find "an important reference to the life of the Canaanites," adding that it could give a glimpse into life in the area before the time when the Biblical patriarchs are said to have lived.

While many artifacts exist from this period, intact graves are rare, mainly because of looting, he said.

Intact graves are more useful to scholars because they show how items were arranged.

"Every time a new tomb is found, it adds to the picture," Pfann said.

The findings will be housed in the Bethlehem Peace Center, a cultural center not far from where the tomb was discovered.

©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

ANGEL'S OLD FASHIONED BEEF STEW

Angel's Old Fashioned Beef Stew

Rated: Submitted By: Margo Photo By: Caroline C Prep Time: 1 Hour Cook Time: 2 Hours Ready In: 3 Hours Servings: 12

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INGREDIENTS:

4 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 pounds beef chuck, cubed 12 small boiling onions

6 large potatoes, peeled and diced 6 carrots, sliced 3 stalks celery, sliced 3 (10.5 ounce) cans beef broth 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon cold water

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a large pot heat oil over medium high heat. In a resealable plastic bag mix together the flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add a small handful of meat at a time and shake until well coated; brown in hot oil, about 1 minute per side. Remove the browned meat and continue until all the meat is browned.
2.	Lower heat to medium and add onions. Brown onions on both sides, about 3 minutes per side, then remove from pot and set aside. Drain excess fat from pot.
3.	To pot add potatoes, carrots, celery, reserved onions, browned meat and broth. Stir all together and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
4.	For a thicker broth: 1/2 hour before stew is done, combine 3 tablespoons flour and water in a small bowl and mix well, then slowly stir mixture into stew.

GERMAN CHOCOLATE ANGEL PIE II

Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour Ready In: 5 Hours 30 Minutes Servings: 8

INGREDIENTS:

3 egg whites 1 pinch salt 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar 3/4 cup white sugar 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 (1 ounce) squares German sweet chocolate, chopped 3 tablespoons strong brewed coffee 1 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
2.	In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and salt and beat until whites stand in soft peaks. Add sugar gradually and beat until very stiff. Fold in chopped nuts and 1 teaspoon. vanilla. Turn the meringue into a buttered 9 inch pie plate. Spread over bottom and sides of plate, building up the sides 1/2 inch above the edge of the plate. Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes. Cool.
3.	In the top of a double boiler, heat chocolate, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in coffee.
4.	In a large bowl, whip the cream to soft peaks. Whisk in vanilla. Fold 1/3 of the cream into the melted chocolate, then fold the chocolate mixture back into the whipped cream until no streaks remain. Work quickly to prevent the chocolate from seizing up. Spoon mixture into meringue shell. Chill for 2 hours in the refrigerator.

FUN FRIDAY

ASHERAH CONTINUED

2. Assyrian Origin of the Goddess
Like so much else in Canaanite religion, the name and worship of Asherah were borrowed from Assyria. She was the wife of the war-god Asir whose name was identified with that of the city of. Assur with the result that he became the national god of Assyria. Since Asirtu was merely the feminine form of Asir, “the superintendent” or “leader,” it is probable that it was originally an epithet of Ishtar (Ashtoreth) of Nineveh. In the West, however, Asherah and Ashtoreth came to be distinguished from one another, Asherah being exclusively the goddess of fertility, whereas Ashtoreth passed into a moon-goddess.

ASHERAH

The woman who stand like columns in from of the house shrine emphasize the relationship between the tree and the goddess.  These figures most likely represent Asherah standing at her shrine, , much like (below) a Cypriot example from Idalion,  now in Louvre. Excavated from a grave in the idalion necropolis, this house shrine dates to the sixth century B,C,E, A female--probably the goddess Astarte--stands in the dooorway and at the windows on either side of the naos.  The hollows along the top are dovecotes, which house doves, a symbol of Astarte

Turkey Shepherd's Pie

Prep Time:

10 Min

Cook Time:
45 Min

Ready In:
55 Min

Original Recipe Yield 4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups cubed cooked turkey
• 3/4 cup turkey gravy
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 2 cups prepared stuffing
• 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 2 cups warm mashed potatoes

Directions

1. In a greased 2-qt. baking dish, layer the turkey, gravy, carrots, stuffing and corn. Top with potatoes. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until edges of potatoes are browned.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 511 | Total Fat: 15.5g | Cholesterol: 55mg

Heavenly Sweet Potatoes

Prep Time:

10 Min

Cook Time:
20 Min

Ready In:
30 Min

Original Recipe Yield 8 servings

Ingredients

• Vegetable cooking spray
• 1 (40 ounce) can cut sweet potato in heavy syrup, drained
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3/4 cup Swanson® Chicken Broth (Regular, Natural Goodness™ or Certified Organic)
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows

Directions

1. Spray a 1 1/2-quart casserole with cooking spray. Put the potatoes, cinnamon and ginger in an electric mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed until almost smooth. Add the broth and beat until potatoes are fluffy. Spoon the potato mixture in the prepared dish. Top with the marshmallows. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until heated through and marshmallows are golden brown.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 173 | Total Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: < 1mg

HAPPY THANKSGIVING