Originally called Ephrath-Gen. 35:16 Rachel was buried in Bethlehem-Gen. 35:19 Bethlehem was the home of Naomi and Boaz-Ruth 1:1, Ruth 1:19, Ruth 4:9-11 Bethlehem was the Home of David-I Sam 16:1-18 Bethlehem was the predicted place for the Messiah's birth-Micah 5:2
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, Matt. 2:5
Shall Christ come out of Galilee? John 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? John 7:43 So there was a division among the people because of him. John 7:44
Herod killed all the children in Bethlehem under two years old because he could not find Jesus: Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Matt. 2:16 Christ was born in Bethlehem-Matt. 2:1, Luke 2:4-7, John 7:42 More Bethlehem Bible Verses:
Judges 12:8 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages. Joshua 19:16
Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem. Genesis 48:8
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem-Judah, whose name was Jess; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. I Sam. 17:12
1Chronicles 2:50 These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim.
1Chronicles 2:51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader.
Micah 5:1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. Micah 5:4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
2 Samuel 2:31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died. 2 Samuel 2:32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. 1 Samuel 17:13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 1 Samuel 17:14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. 1 Samuel 17:15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three. Ezra 2:20 The children of Gibbar, ninety and five. Ezra 2:21 The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three. Ezra 2:22
The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve. Nehemiah 7:25 The children of Gibeon, ninety and five. Nehemiah 7:26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight. Nehemiah 7:27
2 Chronicles 11:4 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam. 2 Chronicles 11:5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah. 2 Chronicles 11:6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, 2 Chronicles 11:7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, 2 Chronicles 11:8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, 2 Chronicles 11:9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, 2 Chronicles 11:10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
Jeremiah 41:16 Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon: Jeremiah 41:17 And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt, Jeremiah 41:18 Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land