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."