Bethlehem (sources)

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Survey of ancient sources on Bethlehem.

Primary sources

Gospel of Matthew

Matt 2:1 -- ...Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king...

Matt 2:5 -- They [i.e. the Magi] told him [i.e. Herod], “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet..."

Matt 2:6 -- “‘ 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 shepherd my people Israel.’”

Matt 2:8 -- And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Matt 2:16 -- Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

Gospel of Luke

Luke 2:4 -- And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.

Luke 2:15 -- When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Gospel of John

John 7:42 -- Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”