How many bethlehems are there in israel

The modern city has many hotels and small shops on narrow, winding streets. The city is built on a hill, and many houses are built in front of old caves. Territory of Zebulun Now the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun according to their families. And the territory of their inheritance was as far as Sarid.

Then their border went up to the west and to Maralah , it then touched Dabbesheth and reached to the brook that is before Jokneam. Then it turned from Sarid to the east toward the sunrise as far as the border of Chisloth-tabor, and it proceeded to Daberath and up to Japhia. From there it continued eastward toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher , to Eth-kazin, and it proceeded to Rimmon which stretches to Neah.

The border circled around it on the north to Hannathon, and it ended at the valley of Iphtahel. He begins with the lack of antiquities from the Herodian period in Bethlehem of Judea, which was the time around the birth of Jesus, a fact that is corroborated by the Israel Antiquities Authority.

But Oshri took it much further, particularly once he began excavating in Bethlehem of the Galilee. He first heard from the locals that Jesus was born in the northern town, and not in the south. During eleven years of excavations, Oshri found a massive Byzantine-era church, with a cave hidden under the apse, as well as parts of a wall that may have circled the village and another two-story building that could have been an ancient khan or guesthouse.

But Bethelehem of the Galilee and Nazareth and Tzippori are very close to each other. Oshri published his findings in the journal Archaeology in , two years after he completed the dig. He said that Protestants were open to it, but those who are more orthodox in their beliefs, such as Catholics and the Greek and Russian Orthodox, were not willing to accept his ideas. Nevertheless, I should mention this quote from an apocryphal gospel, from the 2nd century AD, that does mention Mary riding a donkey.

Though widely read, it was never accepted into the New Testament Canon. How shall I enroll her? As my wife? I am ashamed. As my daughter then? But all the sons of Israel know that she is not my daughter. Now the second Bethlehem, Bethlehem of Galilee, about 6. This town was also known as Bethlehem of Zebulun Joshua and was the burial site of Ibzan 15 Judges , the tenth judge of ancient Israel. Is That Even Possible?

We know what happened in Bethlehem of Judea because of written knowledge after the fact, but to the people of the time, it was all a surprise. This thought is reflected in the song selected to accompany this article. Ray Hermann OutlawBibleStudent. Your email address will NOT be published.

Very well done Ray! Thanks for making plain the issues, and showing some common sense regarding how Mary got to Bethlehem.

No problema. Caravans, certainly, and perhaps carts pulled by donkeys? Thank you for reading this article and taking the time to leave a comment. Thank you, too, for the additional information and your very kind words — they are appreciated.