Bethlehem

City / town · Modern: Bethlehem, West Bank · Judea

A small town six miles south of Jerusalem, 'the city of David': birthplace of King David, home of Ruth and Boaz, and — fulfilling Micah's prophecy — the birthplace of Jesus.

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Archaeology — physical evidence · 1

Life, role & deeds

BibleThe town of David's line and the birthplace of Jesus, exactly as Micah had foretold.

1 Samuel 16:1; Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1

↳ Jesus of Nazareth · David

Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons) ArchaeologyThe Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest churches in continuous use, has enshrined the traditional birthplace since the 4th century.

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem; Constantinian basilica (c. AD 339) rebuilt under Justinian (6th c.); Constantinian mosaic pavement exposed by W. Harvey (excavations 1934); inscribed UNESCO World Heritage 2012.