Bethlehem

Christians worldwide know of Bethlehem - it is where the Christmas story began. The city is also holy to the Jewish People, for it is the birthplace of King David, the burial site of matriarch Rachel, and the hometown of Elimelech in the Book of Ruth. A little known fact is at the time of the Bible there were two Bethlehems in the Land of Israel. The lesser known city was located in the land assigned to the Tribe of Zebulun, in Israel's north. Beit Lehem Haglilit is today a moshav ovdim, founded in 1948 near where the historical Galilee city of Bethlehem was located.

The more familiar Bethlehem is located some eight kilometers south of Jerusalem. When mentioned in the Bible it was always pointed out that the referral was to Bethlehem of Judah.

To all familiar with the Nativity story, Bethlehem was the site of Jesus's birth. Constantinus, the Roman emperor and his mother, Helena, built a church in Bethlehem around the year 300, at the location where they believed Jesus had been born. Today Manger Square, and the Church of the Nativity are central pilgrimage destinations for Christians from all over the world.

Bethlehem was a city of importance to the Crusaders, who conquered it in the year 1100. Over the years of war between the Crusaders and the Muslims the city was destroyed, and then subsequently rebuilt. The Turks destroyed the city in 1244, but Bethlehem was rebuilt once again. Damage was also done over the years as a result of fighting between the local Christian and Muslim populations. As a result of the Six Day War, Bethlehem came under Israeli rule.   From:   Little Town of Bethlehem

  Songs referenced: 

Muhammad My Friend