an interior or exterior wall with several low windows. When Mary is told by the angel Gabriel that she will be the mother of the Son of God, she is also told about Elizabeths pregnancy and quickly makes a bee-line to stay with Elizabeth for three months. Bethlehem Rachels Tomb I do have a question. Moravian buildings, many still standing today, reflect the ingenuity, creativity, and universality of Moravian thinking and philosophy. In 1743, within two years of the settlement of Bethlehem, an apothecary was opened in the Gemeinhaus. Bethlehem - Ancient Roots Bethlehem is about six miles south of Jerusalem in Israel. this coming sunday. If these are the ruins of Simon Peter's house, then this is the place where Jesus stayed while in the city of Capernaum. The urban architecture of the region of Palestine prior to 1850 was relatively sophisticated. The forecourt of the tomb seen here cuts through the abandoned home. No doubt the social and also the devotional elements entered into the occasion. Christ was necessarily born in Judea to one day be its ruler. This stone and mortar home of the late first century B.C. To imagine the little town of Bethlehem from 2,000 years ago, though, we must rely on surviving historical records from the biblical world, archaeological discoveries from first-century Judea, and the natural geography of the surrounding region. Historic Bethlehem Partnership, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is also possible that Herods deliberate placement of Herodion in such close proximity to Bethlehem was itself an attempt to create an impression of dynastic legitimacy; if scripture and local tradition held that the true king of Israel would one day ascend from Davids hometown, Herods personal monument would forge a strong visual association between him and the Davidic monarch expected to come from that location. In the Old Testament period, it began to develop as a modest settlement along a crescent-shaped ridge on the border of the Judean hill country to the west and the Judean desert to the east. Alan, The reason they were grown there is because this Bethlehem was built on a mighty underground aquifer and water was plentiful. Their age difference would have prevented that. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bernhard_Fiedler_-_Kloster_in_Bethlehem_-_2972_-_Kunsthistorisches_Museum.jpg. Bethlehem (Hebrew for "house [or place] of bread") was the birthplace of King David ( 1 Samuel 16:1-4 ). All rights reserved. The upper was where the family lived, and the lower was where the animals were kept during the night for protection and warmth in the winter . Then, later in the first century, two tombs were built beside it. The stairs to the upper apartments are in Syria usually in a corner of the court. It's so fertile because Bethlehem sits on an enormous aquifer, which eventually. Jesus birth in Bethlehem, then, literally occurred in the shadow of Herods reign within sight of Herodion while at the same time posing a divine challenge to it by bringing forth the ultimate royal messiah born in the village of David. Ive long been a fan of your work Mr. Ritmeyer. CENTURY 21: The Gold Standard. 3:6; Ps. 6614 American Way , Bethlehem, PA 18017 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $499,000. ), After the house was abandoned the area was used for quarrying. The1752 Apothecarylaboratory is located just behind the Moravian Book Shop off Main Street. It was in a chamber of this size to be found in a palace, that our Lord was being arraigned before the high priest at the time when the denial of him by St. Peter took place. The text never mentions a stable at all, only a manger. In no point do Oriental domestic habits differ more from European than in the use of the roof. Whether family did or didn't peek in on the new babe, the Bible doesn't say. It said this was "the very first" residential building found from the old Jewish village. There is a mosaic floor about two feet underneath the current floor that some archaeologists believe is from the original church. This would seem to reveal that David celebrated the entering into his house with a special service or festivity of dedication. Sometimes tents or booths were erected on them (2 Sam. Protoevangelium of James 18:1-2). After their wilderness sojourn in tents they entered into possession of the Canaanite goodly cities. Oftentimes, the more vulnerable animals would be brought in at night to protect them from the cold and theft. One would think Joseph would take the shortest, easiest route for his pregnant wife and that would be straight through Samaria? If that were the case, it is possible that much of the agricultural produce from around Bethlehem, as well as many of the sheep and goats being raised there, were used to supply the various offerings and sacrifices necessary for the Jerusalem temple, as implied in later rabbinic sources (see m. Shekelim 7:4). Select Page. Writing a book on David. There is this Bethlehem of Judah, a Bethlehem of Galilee (Joshua 19:15), and possibly a Bethlehem of Benjamin (Nehemiah 7:26; Genesis 35:16, 19; 48:7; 1 Samuel 10:2; Jeremiah 13:4-7; 18:23). The first Biblical reference to Bethlehem comes from Genesis 35:19, when Rachel is buried "on the way to Bethlehem." A home built into a rocky hillside in Nazareth, Jesus' hometown, was regarded as the place where Jesus was brought up by Mary and Joseph. Their form is much dictated by their use. But most first-century houses in Israel had two stories, an upper floor for sleeping and a lower floor for cooking and keeping animals, including their mangers. Owen Jarus is a regular contributor to Live Science who writes about archaeology and humans' past. Historical records show that is where these flocks were grown and tended for sacrifice in the Temples throughout Judea, including for the Temple of Jerusalem. 230 E. 4th St Bethlehem (610)-866-4423 or 946 Hamilton St Allentown (484)-664-2340 . The roofs are used as places of recreation in the evening, and often as sleeping-places at night. They then for the first time inhabited cities (Gen. 47:3; Ex. In Matthew 2:1-6 when Herod calls the Jewish leaders together to find out where the messiah was to be born, the Jewish leaders responded that it was in Bethlehem of Judea as the prophecy of Micah 5:2 . When considered together, these observations can greatly illuminate our understanding of the first Christmas and deeply enrich the way we read the scriptural accounts of Jesus birth. Bethlehem, meaning "house of bread," was also the renowned City of David. It is against this backdrop that Matthew presents Jesus, rather than Herod, as Judeas legitimate king, sent by God through the lineage of David (Matthew 1:117) and born in Bethlehem the Old Testament home of David prophesied to also be the birthplace of the future Davidic messiah (see Micah 5:2; cf. So Israel departed unto their tents.Daniel 5:23 - But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:2 Samuel 3:19 - And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.Deuteronomy 28:30 - Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.1 Chronicles 29:7 - And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. The second house was discovered in 2009 during a rescue operation carried out by Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists. 24:17). The house served as a place of retirement. It was indeed prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea (Judah): According to the Gospels (Matthew 2; Luke 2), Bethlehem was the site of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Thereafter, Bethlehem disappears from the New Testament record. The first Biblical reference to Bethlehem comes from Genesis 35:19, when Rachel is buried on the way to Bethlehem. There is some debate as to which Bethlehem is connected to the story of Rachel, since the Bible mentions a few different locations over hundreds of years. The most prodigious period in Bethlehem began with the founding in 1741 until the end of the General Economy in the 1760s. The first-century house, showing one of its rock-cut walls. In the later synagogues there was an additional room that was used primarily for studies. Mary and Elizabeth were related, but were not cousins. Pompeii. Matthew further records that this was exactly what God had foretold. There, his wife Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin, and he buried her by the side of the Bethlehem Road where her tomb has . Research showed we come from the line of King David of Scotland , Boaz. 1. A First-Century House Matthew 2 Winter in Bethlehem View of the Valley of Jezreel Matthew 3 The Wilderness of Judea, West of the Jordan River The Wilderness John the Baptizer's Clothing and Appearance Locusts Wild Honey Garments Worn by a Pharisee in Jesus' Day Horned Viper Sandals Winnowing Grain Threshing Tools The Jordan River Matthew 4 Neil Ward, via Wikimedia Commons. All Rights Reserved. This prophecy is fulfilled at the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, and John 7:42 explains this prophecy as referring to the Christ. Her was a descendant of Aaron, as was Elisabeth. It was here in 1741 at the union of the Monocacy Creek and Lehigh River that the first Moravians, members of a Protestant denomination, felled white oak trees and began building their community on a 500 acre tract. Excavation work conducted in the Judean hill country has shown, for example, that non-elite homes in this period typically had one or two living rooms made with stacked fieldstone walls; flat plastered roofs; packed-dirt or bedrock floors, over which reed mats could be placed for eating and sleeping; and a small courtyard for food preparation activities. 11:2; 16:22; Dan. Remember, Jospeh and Mary were traveling to Bethlehem for the census, and he would likely have had many relatives in the city. The Moravians located their crafts, trades, and industries along the waterways and their dwellings on the limestone bluff above. According to Luke 2.1-5,Mary and Joseph had to travel to their own city. Death of Herod (4 BCE) (Matthew doesnt mention his place of death, but historically Herod died at his winter palace in Jericho)8. During the first 20 years of the settlement, Europeans, African-Americans, and American Indians lived, worked, worshiped, and went to school together. They were used, not only as places of recreation in the evening, but also sometimes as sleeping-places at night (1 Sam. Lot dwelt with his two daughters in cave (Gen 19:30). Ancient Jerusalem - Interactive Study of Jerusalem with Map. The animals were kept in an enclosed area on a slightly lower level with no roof, the ox, the ass, the goats and other animals. He has also written for The Independent (UK), The Canadian Press (CP) and The Associated Press (AP), among others. That too was prophesied. If you look in our Image Library at places like Ephraim, Capernaum or Chorazin, you will get some idea. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Ritmeyer Archaeological Design began in 1983, producing posters and booklets as a response to the demand for educational materials on the subject of Biblical Archaeology. The prophecy in Micah 5:2 says, But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. Bethlehem was a small Jewish town 6 miles or 9.6 kilometres from Jerusalem. There are many references to the use of caves as dwellings in the Old Testament. There is no record of people being forced to return to ancestral homes in any census. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. the story of Joseph and Mary coming to Bethlehem to enroll in the census makes historical sense. (Photo copyright Ken Dark. Together, these features would have formed the physical backdrop for Lukes description of the shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night when the angel proclaimed to them the good news of the Messiahs birth in the village (see Luke 2:811). Joseph, Mary and Jesus relocate to Nazareth, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. The Incredible Bible - First in the BKA Series. Massacre of the Innocents in Bethlehem7. Tues: 11am - 5pm Wed: 11am - 7pm Thurs: 11am-5pm 2nd Saturday of the month: 10am to 2pm. Main Library. 45:8). First century homes were small and most were single level. (5) The roof is often of a material which could easily be broken up, as it was by the paralytic's friends: sticks, thorn bushes (bellan), with mortar, and marl or earth. Visitors to Bethlehem immediately feel of its profound scriptural significance as they recall the events of the Nativity while viewing the ancient landscape on which they occurred. Clearly, Joseph lived somewhere close to Nazareth as if he did not, he never would have met Mary. 2.2 also prophecies that the ruler of Israel would come from Bethlehem-Ephratah which was in the Biblical tribe of Judah. 1 Chronicles 29:2 - Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for [things to be made] of gold, and the silver for [things] of silver, and the brass for [things] of brass, the iron for [things] of iron, and wood for [things] of wood; onyx stones, and [stones] to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.Deuteronomy 7:26 - Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: [but] thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it [is] a cursed thing.1 Kings 8:64 - The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that [was] before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brasen altar that [was] before the LORD [was] too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.Ezekiel 40:48 - And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured [each] post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate [was] three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.Ezekiel 43:11 - And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write [it] in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.Ezekiel 48:21 - And the residue [shall be] for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house [shall be] in the midst thereof.2 Samuel 15:35 - And [hast thou] not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? Required fields are marked *. First-century houses In December 2009 the Israel Antiquities Authority announced the discovery of a house from the time of Christ in the centre of Nazareth. Matthew and Luke mention Bethlehem in the birth narratives (Matthew 2:1, 5-6;Luke 2:4, 15). Three readings on the history of the Moravian community and the development of Bethlehem; 3. Most of the buildings were built between the mid-18th to early-20th century and reflect Bethlehem's development from a Moravian community to an industrial based economy. Ancient cities typically had one inn as in the case of Rahab. The shepherds fields, small watchtowers, terraces and natural caves used for grazing sheep and goats along the hill slopes outside of Bethlehem. 1Sa 28:24 The windows are small apertures high up in the walls, sometimes grated with wood. I love the story of Ruth and Boaz and would love a deeper story. At one time in the mid-18thcentury, 15 different languages were spoken in Bethlehem. First Century Israel Map - But, what is the importance of Bethlehem and which inn was chosen by God as the place for His son to be born in? Yours is one of the best. At times he still lived in a house (Genesis 17:27); so also Isaac (Genesis 27:15), and Jacob (Genesis 33:15). It was decorated with mosaics and venerated along with the house. Your email address will not be published. A family origin for him in the village of Bethlehem in the Roman province of Judaea only makes sense. Archaeologists working in Nazareth Jesus' hometown in modern-day Israel have identified a house dating to the first century that was regarded as the place where Jesus was brought up by. Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem3. A Harmony of the Life of Jesus - Four gospel accounts in harmony. It was here in young David's hometown that the prophet Samuel anointed him to be king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13). These writings come from before the time of Emperor Hadrian (ca. Bethlehem is located 5 miles south of Jerusalem. Today archaeologists know that this tomb was built sometime after the house was abandoned. [Manners And Customs of Bible Lands], "Houses of One Room AFTER ISRAEL had been in the land of Canaan many years and had settled down from the nomadic life to the more stable agricultural pursuits, houses began to take the place of tents as places of abode. Excavations indicated that the first church built on the site was in the shape of a square with sides of 87 feet, and the basilica was divided into four rows of nine columns each. or first century A.D. may have been where Jesus grew up in Nazareth, Israel, says Ken Dark, associate professor of archaeology at the U.K.'s University of Reading. The house was discovered in the 1880s by the nuns of the Sisters of Nazareth convent. The Western road led northwest to Joppa and also southwest to Bethlehem and Hebron. . Most people know Herod the Great as the king who ordered the massacre of the Innocents at the time of Jesus' birth. Construction of the Temple in Jerusalem lasted for . "Ceiled houses" were such as had beams inlaid in the walls to which wainscotting was fastened (Ezra 6:4; Jer. Their first interest was in spending as much time as possible in GOD's out-of-doors. The archaeologists discovered several new sites which date to the early period of Roman rule. Sozomen, Ecclesiastical History 2.2.1). by . Archaeologists can't say this structure was indeed Jesus' home, but that is possible, they say. In addition to all of this, there is nothing . The irony here is gobsmacking. Many visitors, however, are also quick to note how little the modern city of Bethlehem resembles the first-century Judean village of the gospel accounts. Internal Appearance III. Located around 36 km from Blou Donki Gallery, the guest house with free WiFi is also 36 km away from Art and Wine Gallery on Main. From the earliest times the Assyrians and the Canaanites were builders of cities. (Photo copyright Ken Dark.). Where on the Temple Mount was Jesus during Hanukkah? Jud 16:26http://www.bible-history.com/sHouse in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE hous (bayith; oikos, in classical Greek generally "an estate," oikia, oikema (literally, "habitation"), in Acts 12:1, "prison"): I. CAVE DWELLINGS II. At the side of the court opposite the entrance was the: (3) guest chamber (Luke 22:11-12), Hebrew lishkah, from laashak, "to recline"; where Samuel received his guests (1 Samuel 9:22).