Why was Bethlehem so special to Jesus?

Answer 1

Jewish tradition was that King David had been born in Bethlehem. The Jews of the first century believed that a king, descended from David, would be born in Bethlehem and would recover Judea's independence. This longed-for king was known as the Messiah (anointed one). Jesus was born in Bethlehem and was descended from David, because he was the Messiah.

Answer 2

Unusual? I wouldn't think it was. I'm sure plenty of folks were born in Bethlehem. But it just so happened that when Jesus' mother, Mary, and Joseph were visiting Bethlehem to take part in the census, she gave birth to Him (Luke 2:1-7). And it just so happened that the Jews were expecting the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:4-6, Micah 5:2).

Micah 5:2 has been interpreted by Christian scholars as a messianic prophecy that Christ would be born in Bethlehem.

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days."

Bethlehem Ephrathah is the name of a clan from which king David was born (Joseph was a descendant of David, not Mary), and this passage refers to the future birth of a new Davidic heir . The Gospel of Matthew account describes Herod the Great asking the chief priests and scribes of Jerusalem where the Messiah was to be born; they respond by quoting the passage from Micah: "InBethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel" Matthew 2:4-6. Matthew misquoted Micah 5:2 by changing " clans of Judah " a tribe to "in the land of Judah" implying a place.

The idea that Bethlehem was to be the birthplace of the Messiah appears to be a specifically Christian idea. No Jewish source before the 4th century AD mentions this. Jewish tradition appears to have emphasized the idea that the birthplace of the Messiah was not known.

Many modern scholars consider the birth stories as inventions by the Gospel writers, created to glorify Jesus and present his birth as the fulfillment of prophecy. However since the birth in Bethlehem is one of the few common elements in the Gospel accounts, some scholars believe that both writers were drawing on an existing Christian tradition.

Answer 3

Another answer from our community:

This is a fulfillment of the prophecy found in:

Micah 5:2 (King James Version):

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.

Answer 4

Jesus was born in Bethlehem to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy:

Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.(Micah 5:2)

Also because Joseph was of the line of David:

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Luk 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

Luk 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Luk 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David

Luk 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Luk 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Answer 5

Because God wanted him to be born in '...the town of Bethlehem, where David was?' .(1 Samuel 17:12/John 7:42KJV)

Luke 2:1-5 tells us that Joseph, who lived in Nazareth, returned to his hometown, 'Bethlehem of Judea', when Governor Quinrinius required a registration. This happened when Mary was about to give birth, and was in fulfillment of the prophecy which said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2/Matthew 2:5+6). It was not until after the family's move to Egypt, and those seeking to kill Jesus had died, that they again returned to Nazareth(Matthew 2:19-23)

Answer 6

It was written that He would be born there. There was no where else where He could be born

because he went to the jews who was chosen from god to be the holy people

evidence : o isreal our loard is one loard

Answer 7

A:There are two nativity accounts, in Matthew and Lukerespectively. These gospels were originally anonymous but were attributed to the apostles whose names they now bear later in the second century. Bear in mind that the scholarly consensus is that neither nativity account is historically true.

The authors of both nativity stories knew that Jewish expectations had been that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. As Jesus would be known as 'Jesus of Nazareth', the author of Luke's Gospel had Mary and Joseph living in Nazareth but required to travel to Bethlehem for a census, then return to Nazareth where he grew up. The author of Matthew's Gospel says that Bethlehem was the home town of Mary and Joseph and therefore describes how they travelled to Nazareth via Egypt after the birth of Jesus.

A:

Joseph was of the lineage of King David therefore had to go to Bethlehem (David's birth place ) to register. - Luke 2:4

Jesus was also born at Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy (Mic 5:2).

This is how the scribes understood it (Mat 2:5, Mat 2:6).

The common people also understood that Bethlehem would be the birth place of the Messiah Joh 7:42.

The name of the place was significant. Bethlehem signifies the house of bread; a proper place for him to be born in who is the Bread of life, the Bread that came down from heaven.

Answer 8

There are two gospels that tell of the birth of Jesus - Matthew and Luke. We are all familiar with Luke's story of Mary and Joseph travelling from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. But for Matthew, Bethlehem seems to have been the hometown of Mary and Joseph - not Nazareth. So, for one gospel the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was quite natural; the family only moved to Nazareth some years later, out of fear of Herod's son.

For Luke, Mary and Joseph travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem during Mary's late pregnancy because of a census Luke says was to be conducted. Historians have not been able to find any evidence of a census during the reign of King Herod and, in any case, doubt whether subjects would have been obliged to travel to Another Country to be counted.

The two gospels agree on very few things about the birth of Jesus, other than that it took place in Bethlehem. If we accept that the discrepancies between the two accounts may mean that not just one, but both accounts were not really true, historical accounts, then we can say that the birth of Jesus was set in Bethlehem because of a widespread expectation among Jews that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. If Jesus was to be the Messiah, he had to be born in Bethlehem.

Answer 9

Matthew's Gospel and Luke's Gospel both contain nativity accounts which, although they differ and are even contradictory in key details, describe Jesus as born in Bethlehem. This was the city in which King David is said to have been born, and the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is the first of a number of associations made between Jesus and David. Both gospels also provide a genealogy that traces the lineage of Jesus back through Joseph to King David. The significance of this connection is amply demonstrated by the very clear contradictions between the two genealogies, meaning that neither author really knew anything about Jesus' ancestry, but nevertheless felt it necessary to draw as many associations between Jesus and David as possible.

The author of John's Gospel shows that he did not really believe that Jesus was born in Bethlehem or even descended from David, but he still explains the significance of the Messiah being born in that town (7:41-42): "Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?"

Answer 10

because Jesus is the bread to those who believe in Him.