Interesting fact is that there were 2 Bethlehems when Jesus was born. So which one was it? The most famous Bethlehem is located in the hill country (approximately 2,500 feet above sea level) of Judah. Situated on the main highway to Egypt (which came in very useful just after the birth of Jesus Christ), it was known variously as Ephrath (Genesis 35:16), Bethlehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2), Bethlehem-Judah (1 Samuel 17:12), and “the city of David” (Luke 2:4). (King David was born in Bethlehem-Judah).
Bethlehem-Judah is in the south and the other Bethlehem is in the north near Nazareth. Very interesting how God orchestrated this all together. Look at Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
