Bethlehem hometown of David

David – the Iconic King of Israel

Stories of David are told in the Bible about his amazing heroics – how he became King of Israel, his rule of the kingdom … and his great sins. In-spite-of his flaws, David became the subject of virtually undisputed prophecies that foretold the Messiah would come through his lineage.^[1]

Accounts begin with his father who was Jesse from Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah. Red-headed David, the youngest of 8 boys, was assigned to be the shepherd of his father’s sheep. Alone in the wilderness, he became an expert with a slingshot and single-handedly killed lions and bears who threatened the flock.^[2]

Summoned one day by his father to their home in Bethlehem, David was a surprised when he discovered the prophet Samuel was there waiting, too. Shockingly, the prophet anointed David as God’s choice to be the next King of Israel in-spite-of the fact Israel already had a ruling King.^[3] Nothing changed immediately, but David’s legendary actions began to grow soon thereafter…

Three of David’s brothers were fighting in Israel’s army supported by their father who routinely sent David to them with supplies. During one visit, David was astonished to see Israel’s army afraid of an ace giant Philistine warrior named Goliath who challenged and taunted Israel’s army daily.

Asking King Saul’s permission to battle Goliath, the shepherd boy was ridiculed by his older brothers and even King Saul tried to discourage David; however, the King relented. Defiantly David announced to Goliath he would kill him in the name of the Lord and cut off his head, but David was still cursed and mocked by the giant Philistine.

David did just as he said – with a slingshot and a single stone he killed Goliath, then used Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head. That very day David was placed in the service of King Saul.^[4]

Fame eventually made Saul jealous of David forcing him to go into hiding when Saul tried to kill him.^[5] Failing to seek and obey God’s guidance would cost King Saul his own life and that of his sons in battle.

After Saul’s death, David became king, but he had no throne and the fortified city of Jebus was in David’s sight. ^[6] With the notoriety of being a skilled formidable warrior from serving in King Saul’s army, David had become well-known to his enemies.^[7] Using his savvy reputation, David formed an army from the tribes of Israel and advanced toward Jebus.

Hurling insults at Israel’s approaching army, the Jebusites taunted them shouting “the blind and the lame” could fight off Israel and in arrogant mockery positioned lame and blind people on the city walls.^[8] Taking great offense, David offered his commanding leaders the position of General to whomever led the army to victory over Jebus.^[9]

Joab won the challenge and became the commanding General of Israel’s army. Jebus, formerly known as Salem, now was called by new names – the City of David, Jerusalem, also called Zion.^[10]

Basking in the glory of his kingdom, David decided to take a census contrary to God’s past instructions because it demonstrated a lack of faith in God.^[11] General Joab pressed the King not to do it, but David persisted.^[12]

Punishment delivered by an “angel of the Lord” for David’s sin was heavy upon the nation whereupon the King pleaded with God to punish only himself and his family because Israel was innocent. Prophet Gad delivered God’s response instructing David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah located on Mount Moriah and offer an atonement sacrifice for the people of Israel.^[13]

Purchasing the threshing floor, the oxen and materials, David himself built the altar. Astonishingly, God sent fire down from heaven to consume the sacrifice.

Moved deeply, David declared: “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offerings for Israel.”^[14] The Temple was to be built on Mount Moriah, the place where a 1000 years earlier Abraham took his only son, Isaac, to be sacrificed, but spared at the last moment with a substitute sacrificial ram.^[15]

News came from God to David in the form of a prophecy came through the prophet Nathan. He foretold that David’s future son would be the one to build the House of God fulfilling one of the promises God made to Moses at Mt. Sinai.^[16]

^{2 Sam 7:12-13} “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”^[17]

Lord Acton’s quote “absolute power corrupts absolutely” applied even to King David. From his palace rooftop, David watched his neighbor’s wife taking a bath.

Ironically, her name was Bath-Sheba. Dispatching his men to bring her to his palace, David seduced her and she became pregnant.^[18]

Bath-Sheba’s husband, Uriah, was one of the King’s top military officers away fighting a war – how would Bath-Sheba explain away her pregnancy? David devised a cover-up plan.

Uriah was summoned from the battlefield at the behest of David under the pretense of earning a well-deserved leave from duty. The true reason was to give Bath-Sheba an opportunity to have marital relations with her husband to legitimize her pregnancy.

Backfiring, the loyal Uriah did not think it would be fair to his troops back on the battlefield if he were at home enjoying the pleasures of his wife. The King’s back-up scheme was much more sinister.

To the front lines of war David sent Uriah with the expectation Uriah would die in battle. Indeed, he was killed in action.

A royally planned and executed murder plot seemed foolproof – except to God. Prophet Nathan exposed David’s sin bringing judgment upon the King and Bath-Sheba when their ill-conceived baby died.^[19]

In spite of his deplorable sins of adultery and murder, God still honored His promise to David. Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah over the following centuries would prophesy that the Messiah would come from the House of David, prophecies attested by renowned Jewish Sages Rashi and Maimonides.^[20]

David also wrote many of the Psalms, some deemed to be prophetic.^[21] First words of Psalms 22, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” were cried out by Jesus shortly before he died on the cross. Psalms 22 depicts the dramatic image of a man dying in agony and humiliation, remarkably consistent in specific detail of the circumstances of the Roman crucifixion of Jesus a millennium later.

As a mortal, Jesus would have no control over being born a 1000 years later into the royal lineage of David nor in Bethlehem, David’s hometown. It is especially exceptional considering that up until the last moment, Jesus was expected to be born in Nazareth, a week’s-long journey away.

From King David to Jesus, what are the odds of improbability all these events were just a coincidence?

Updated January 26, 2024.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] I Samuel 16. CR I Chronicles 2; Matthew 1:6; Luke 3:31-32.
[2] I Samuel 17.
[3] I Sam. 16; Chronicles 2, 10.
[4] I Samuel 18. “David and Goliath.” WallpaperCave. photo. n.d. <https://wallpapercave.com/wp/wp3721504.jpg>
[5] I Samuel 19.
[6] 2 Samuel 2, 5. 1 Chronicles 10, 11.
[7] 1Chronicles 11.
[8] I Chronicles 11; 2 Samuel 5. Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Book VII, Chapter III.1. <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false>
[9] 2 Samuel 5; I Chronicles 11. Josephus. Antiquity. Book VII, Chapter III.1.
[10] I Chronicles 17:1. Josephus. Antiquity. Book VII, Chapter III.1-2. <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false> Net.bible.org. Hebrew text. “Jebus <2982>” <https://net.bible.org> Lexicon-Concordance Online Bible. Hebrew “J^ebuw <2982>” (Brown-Driver-Briggs). <http://lexiconcordance.com> Dolphin, Lambert. “Mount Moriah, Site of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.” TempleMount.org. 1996. <http://www.templemount.org/moriah2.html> “Zion.” Fausset Bible Dictionary. 1878. http://classic.studylight.org/dic/fbd> “Zion.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2024. <https://www.britannica.com/place/Zion-hill-Jerusalem>
[11] Exodus 30.
[12] I Chronicles 21; 2 Samuel 24.
[13] I Chronicles 21; 2 Chronicles 3; 2 Samuel 24.
[14] NKJV. I Chronicles 21-22. 2 Samuel 24. “Araunah.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com> “The Site – The Temple Mount.” Bible-History.com. n.d. <http://www.bible-history.com/jewishtemple/JEWISH_TEMPLEThe_Site.htm> Josephus. Antiquities. Book VII, Chapter III.
[15] I Chronicles 22; 2 Chronicles 3.
[16] Genesis 49; 2 Samuel 5; 1 Chronicles 11, 17; Chronicles 5; 1Kings 2; Judges 1; Psalms 76. Josephus. Antiquities. Book VII, Chapter III.2.
[17] NASB. I Chronicles 17.
[18] 2 Samuel 11. “Lord Acton writes to Bishop Creighton…” Online Library of Liberty. 2017. <http://oll.libertyfund.org/quote/214> “King David Quotes.” AZQuotes. photo. n.d. <https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/king-david.html>
[19] 2 Samuel 12.
[20] Isaiah 9; Jeremiah 23; 33; Zechariah 12. The Compete Jewish Bible – with Rashi Commentary. Rashi commentaries: Gensis 49:10; Numbers 24:17; Zechariah 12:12; Micah 5:2. Maimonides. Mishneh Torah. “The Law Concerning Moshiach.” Chapter 11. <http://www.kesser.org/moshiach/rambam.html#SIE>
[21] The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi’s Commentary. Rashi commentaries on Micah 5:2 and Psalms 118:22. “Salvation.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011.

Bethlehem – An Amazing Small Town Story

Bethlehem had already been a town for millennia by the time Judea became a province of Rome. In many ways today’s city is no different today than it was while under Roman rule:

“…Bethlehem, today as it was 2,000 years ago, grottoes are used as livestock pens. Mangers are carved out of rock. Here, in the bulls-eye of this volatile place, ringed by Jewish settlements, imprisoned within a wall, encircled by refugee camps, hidden amid a forest of minarets, tucked below the floor of an ancient church, is a silver star. This, it’s believed, is where Jesus was born.” – National Geographic ^[1]

“House of bread” or “the dwelling of bread” is the meaning of Bethlehem while Ephrathah is a district much like a county meaning “fruitful.”^[2] Practically a suburb of Jerusalem, the city is located just 5 miles to the south.^[3]

Jacob’s wife, Rachel, died near Bethlehem while giving birth to Benjamin, Israel’s (Jacob) 12^th son and was buried just outside of the town some 2500 before the lifetime of Jesus of Nazareth. Today her tomb is a revered religious site of both Jews and Muslims.^[4]

One of the oldest cities in the world, Bethlehem should be as anonymous as are nearly all the other small Judean towns of ancient Palestine. A string of connected events over hundreds of years that would not allow the hamlet to be forgotten.

Becoming famous, the town is the location for three major occurrences. It became known as the home town of the King David of Israel; the place of the Hebrew redemption story; and the town where Jesus of Nazareth was born.

Seven generations removed from Jacob through his son, Judah, was born Boaz of Bethlehem, famous in Hebrew lore for his story of redemption, a ga’al or “goel.” Another Bethlehem resident, Naomi, and her Gentile Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, are part of the story.^[5]

Hebrew law allowed Boaz to redeem Naomi’s inheritance lost through a series of family deaths by marrying Ruth…if the first successor relative declined to marry her.^[6] Declining the offer, Boaz then wed Ruth wed thereby redeeming Naomi’s inheritance and had a son named Obed, the father of Jesse who appears in two messiah prophecies by the Isaiah.^[7]

Samuel, the prophet, was sent by God to Jesse’s house in Bethlehem. His mission: to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the king-in-waiting to replace King Saul who had rejected God.^[8]

Surprising everyone, Jesse’s youngest son, the shepherd boy named David, was anointed as God’s choice to be the next king of Israel. The soon-to-be giant-slayer went on to become the most iconic king in the nation’s history.

Six Branch prophecies were issued by three prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah. These Branch prophecies would foretell the future Messiah would come from House of David.^[9]

Generations after David’s reign, the prophet Micah would again shine the spotlight on Bethlehem Ephrathah prophesying the future Messiah of the tribe of Judah would come from that little town of Bethlehem. Translations of the Micah prophecy in Greek and Jewish Bibles are in agreement with the English translations…

^{Micah 5:1 (5:2)} “And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah-you should have been the lowest of the clans of Judah-from you [he] shall emerge for Me, to be a ruler over Israel; and his origin is from of old, from days of yore.” – Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary

Revered Jewish sage Rabbi Rashi commented on the prophecy. His phrase-by-phrase breakdown defines Bethlehem Ephrathah and identifies who would emerge from the town:

“And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah”: [Rashi:] whence David emanated, as it is stated (I Sam. 17:58): “The son of your bondsman, Jesse the Bethlehemite.” And Bethlehem is called Ephrath, as it is said (Gen. 48:7): “On the road to Ephrath, that is Bethlehem.”

“from you shall emerge for Me”: [Rashi:] the Messiah, son of David, and so Scripture says (Ps. 118:22): “The stone the builders had rejected became a cornerstone.”

“and his origin is from of old”: [Rashi:] “Before the sun his name is Yinnon” (Ps. 72:17)

Talmud Sanhedrin 98b identifies Yinnon along with Shiloh and other names for the Messiah who would come from the House of David. Rabbi Johanan in the Gemara quotes from the Isaiah 52-53 parashah considered by many to be a Messiah prophecy.^[10]

About a 1000 years after the House of David was established, Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem under bizarre, unforeseen circumstances. His parents, Mary and Joseph, were compelled by a decree of Roman Caesar Augustus to travel 90 miles by foot or donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem just days before his mother was to give birth.

On the night of the birth of Jesus, shepherds heralded by angels came to see the baby. Telling about Jesus being born in a stable, Luke’s Nativity adds he was laid in a manger for his crib.

Days later, Matthew‘s Nativity describes Magi, who came from another country after seeing “His star,” set out on a quest to find the baby. The Magi wanted to worship Jesus while unwittingly drawing the ire of King Herod who actually wanted to kill Jesus.

Murder of baby boys 2 years old and younger was ordered by King Herod when the Magi didn’t return with information where to find Jesus. The notorious incident is known as the Massacre of the Innocents and is honored on the 28th of December by the Feast of the Holy Innocents.^[11]

Today, some 2000 years later, the famed little town of Bethlehem is now the backdrop for the Christmas Nativity scene detailed by Gospels Luke and Matthew. Over the centuries the story of the Nativity scene has been condensed into one night.

Three events initiated over several months in three countries culminated in Bethlehem at the point when Jesus of Nazareth was born.

Was this an improbable coincidence or a fulfillment of prophecy?

Updated November 17, 2024.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] Finkel, Michael. National Geographic. “Bethlehem 2007 A.D.”, p.65. December, 2007. Skaballanovich, Michael. Orthodox Christianity. image. n.d. http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/102817/281720.b.jpg?mtime=1515078287>
[2] Ryrie Study Bible. Ed. Ryrie Charles C. Trans. New American Standard. Moody Press. 1978. Footnote on Micah 5:2. The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi’s Commentary. Micah – Chapter 5 commentary.
[3] Map of Israel. (untitled) Google Maps. n.d. <https://www.google.com/maps/@31.743205,35.21307,13z?hl=en> Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Book VII, Chapter XII. The Complete Works of Josephus. 1850. <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false>
[4] Genesis 35:16-19; 48:7. “The Story of Abraham.” The History of Israel. n.d. <http://www.israel-a-history-of.com/story-of-abraham.html> Pratt, John P. “Divine Calendars Testify of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” JohnPratt.com. <http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2003/abraham.html> “Rachel’s Tomb.” Chabad.org. n.d. <http://www.chabad.org/special/israel/points_of_interest_cdo/aid/602502/jewish/Rachels-Tomb.htm> Roberts, David. The Victorian Web. “Bethlehem, Looking Toward the Dead Sea.” Painting. 1853. <https://victorianweb.org/painting/roberts/paintings/5.html
[5] I Chronicles 2:1-17; Ruth 3-4. Net.bible.org. Hebrew text ga’al. Ruth 2:20 <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=01350> “Salvation” and “Hosanna.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com> [4] Matthew 1:5; 1 Chronicles 2:10; Ruth 4:21.
[6] I Sam. 16: 4. 2 Samuel 16:11-13. I Chronicles 2:13.
[7] Net.bible.org..Ruth 2:20 Hebrew text. “goel.” Dictionary.com.
[8] Isaiah 11:1-2; 10.
[9] Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:14-17; 33:20-26; Zechariah 12:10-12
[10] Sanhedrin 98b. Soncino Babylonian Talmud. 1935-1948. <https://israelect.com/Come-and-Hear/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_98.html> “Nedarim 39b.” Soncino Babylonian Talmud. Steinsaltz, Adin. “Masechet Sanhedrin 98a-104b.” Orthodox Union. 2010. <https://www.ou.org/life/torah/masechet_sanhedrin_98a104b>
[11] McCaulley, Esau. The New York Times. “The Bloody Fourth Day of Christmas.” image. 2019. <https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/27/opinion/christmas-feast-of-innocents.html> “Feast of the Holy Innocents.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2022. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Feast-of-the-Holy-Innocents> Last accessed 8 Dec. 2023.