Hebrew: Beit Lechem / Arabic: Bayt Lacham

Coordinates: 31°42′19.33″N, 35°12′20.36″E / Elevation: +2640

Because of its affinity to the Christmas story, Bethlehem is arguably the most name-recognizable towns in Israel, outside of Jerusalem.  Most Christians have, after all, sung about it since childhood.  The town does, however, have a Biblical existence beyond the Nativity of Christ. 

In the Old Testament, it is first mentioned as the burial place of Rachel, Jacob’s favored wife (Genesis 35:19 & 48:7). Bethlehem is mentioned in the original allotment of the 12 Tribes in Joshua (19:15).  It is associated with Ruth, who followed Naomi back to Bethlehem after the death of Naomi’s husband and sons (Ruth 1:1-22).  Boaz, near kinsman to Elimelech (Naomi’s husband) and Ruth’s eventual husband, lived in Bethlehem (Ruth 2:1-4:12).  Ruth and Boaz raised their son Obed, who became the father of Jesse who was the father of David, in Bethlehem (Ruth 4:13-17).  The shepherd boy and future king, David, was anointed by the prophet Samuel in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1-13).  And Bethlehem in Judah was prophesied to be the place from whence the Messiah would come (Micah 5:2).

Today, much of Bethlehem lies behind a huge barrier known simply as “the Wall” which Israel is building in the hopes of insulating itself from Palestinian terrorists.  While the protection values of such insulation is debated both within and outside of Israel, the effect of the isolation the Wall brings to towns such as Bethlehem is absolutely devastating – especially to Palestinian Christians who depend on tourist dollars for survival.