[51], On December 21, 1995, Israeli troops withdrew from Bethlehem,[52] and three days later the city came under the administration and military control of the Palestinian National Authority in accordance with the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 445–446. [43], Socin found from an official Ottoman village list from about 1870 that Bethlehem had a population of 179 Muslims in 59 houses, 979 "Latins" in 256 houses, 824 "Greeks" in 213 houses, and 41 Armenians in 11 houses, a total of 539 houses. [87] The only mosque in the Old City is the Mosque of Omar, located in the Manger Square. Bethlehem of Judah is located 8 kilometers (5 miles) south-southwest of Jerusalem with an elevation of 762 meters (2500 feet). The Greek Orthodox were given control of the basilica and shared control of the Milk Grotto with the Latins and the Armenians. Its population is approximately 25,000,[4][5] and it is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate. Ellen Clare Miller, 'Eastern Sketches – notes of scenery, schools and tent life in Syria and Palestine'. See [115], The art of mother-of-pearl carving is said to have been a Bethlehem tradition since the 15th century when it was introduced by Franciscan friars from Italy. The theme of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem of Judah, before being a historical statement is a theological assertion; it was part of the Jewish religious belief in the period of the Second Temple that the Messiah would be born there. [89] Since the Second Intifada, 10% of the Christian population have left the city. The Badd Giacaman Museum, located in the Old City of Bethlehem, dates back to the 18th century and is primarily dedicated to the history and process of olive oil production. [97] Tourism accounts for approximately 65% of the city's economy and 11% of the Palestinian National Authority. [37] In 1250, with the coming to power of the Mamluks under Rukn al-Din Baibars, tolerance of Christianity declined. [24][25][26] Modern scholars, however, regard the two accounts as contradictory[25][26] and the Gospel of Mark, the earliest gospel, mentions nothing about Jesus having been born in Bethlehem, saying only that he came from Nazareth. In the Bible, God gives warning to the Israelites in regards to the sexual idolatry of the Canaanites and their fertility cult (Leviticus 18:27). In one of his six letters to Pharaoh, Abdi-Heba, the Egyptian-appointed governor of Jerusalem, appeals for aid in retaking Bit-Laḫmi in the wake of disturbances by Apiru mercenaries: "Now even a town near Jerusalem, Bit-Lahmi by name, a village which once belonged to the king, has fallen to the enemy ... Let the king hear the words of your servant Abdi-Heba, and send archers to restore the imperial lands of the king!" Taylor, 1993, pp. [53] During the Second Palestinian Intifada in 2000–2005, Bethlehem's infrastructure and tourism industry were damaged. [9], In 1187, Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria who led the Muslim Ayyubids, captured Bethlehem from the Crusaders. Yeshua was also born in Bethlehem in the land of Judah to mark the mission for which He was born, to give His life as a ransom for many. The Aida and Azza refugee camps are located within the city limits. Martyr probably learned about the cave from local traditions that had been passed down from the time of Jesus' birth. Following the Six-Day War, Israel took control of the city. "Joseph ... took up his quarters in a certain cave near the village; and while they were there Mary brought forth the Christ and placed him in a manger, and here the Magi who came from Arabia found him. It is now encircled and encroached upon by dozens of Israeli settlements and the Israeli West Bank barrier, which separates both Muslim and Christian communities from their land and livelihoods, and sees a steady exodus from both communities. Where is “Judea” (Matthew 2:1)? Joseph, warned of Herod's impending action by an angel of the Lord, decided to flee to Egypt with his family and then later settled in Nazareth after Herod's death. You may be familiar with the story. The taqsireh was made of velvet or broadcloth, usually with heavy embroidery. Israel descended. Bethlehem: The Setting for the Story. There are two taxi stations that make trips to Beit Sahour, Beit Jala, Jerusalem, Tuqu' and Herodium. The quarters include the Christian an-Najajreh, al-Farahiyeh, al-Anatreh, al-Tarajmeh, al-Qawawsa and Hreizat quarters and al-Fawaghreh — the only Muslim quarter. [83], The Church of the Nativity is one of Bethlehem's major tourist attractions and a magnet for Christian pilgrims. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Collegessuggests that the Bethlehem referred t… In Bethlehem the cave is pointed out where he was born, and the manger in the cave where he was wrapped in swaddling clothes. Who is “Herod the king” (Matthew 2:3)? [102] The second century Christian apologist Justin Martyr stated in his Dialogue with Trypho (written c. 155–161) that the Holy Family had taken refuge in a cave outside of the town and then placed Jesus in a manger. “bread” (lehem). Join our live worship services. [85][86] In 2006, the Palestinian Centre for Research and Cultural Dialogue conducted a poll among the city's Christians according to which 90% said they had had Muslim friends, 73.3% agreed that the PNA treated Christian heritage in the city with respect and 78% attributed the exodus of Christians to the Israeli blockade. [115] Bethlehem embroidery was renowned for its "strong overall effect of colors and metallic brilliance. [59] Bethlehem is situated on the southern portion[clarification needed] in the Judean Mountains. There are also two car rental departments: Murad and 'Orabi. [36], Bethlehem, along with Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Sidon, was briefly ceded to the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem by a treaty between Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and Ayyubid Sultan al-Kamil in 1229, in return for a ten-year truce between the Ayyubids and the Crusaders. The center aims to preserve and promote Palestinian embroidery, art and folklore. We have all sorts of technology to give us information of every sort almost instantly. If you enjoyed reading this article, share it today with friends! During the early months of First Intifada, on 5th May 1989, Milad Anton Shahin, aged 12, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers. [95], In 2008, Bethlehem hosted the largest economic conference to date in the Palestinian territories. [66], According to Ottoman tax records, Christians made up roughly 60% of the population in the early 16th century, while the Christian and Muslim population became equal by the mid-16th century. [9] Control of Bethlehem passed from the Ottomans to the British at the end of World War I. Bethlehem came under Jordanian rule during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and was later captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. [32][9], In 637, shortly after Jerusalem was captured by the Muslim armies, 'Umar ibn al-Khattāb, the second Caliph, promised that the Church of the Nativity would be preserved for Christian use. The city's main streets and old markets are lined with shops selling Palestinian handicrafts, Middle Eastern spices, jewelry and oriental sweets such as baklawa. Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, Matthew 2:4 And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. The earliest reference to Bethlehem appears in the Amarna correspondence (c. 1400 BCE). Yet in that place, So crude, folorn, The Hope of all The world was born. As a result, the Bishop of Bethlehem duly took up residence in the hospital of Panthenor, Clamecy, in 1223. Early Christian traditions describe Jesus as being born in Bethlehem: in one account, a verse in the Book of Micah is interpreted as a prophecy that the Messiah would be born there. Two Why was the town where Jesus will be born named [21] It was from the well of Bethlehem that three of his warriors brought him water when he was hiding in the cave of Adullam. The siege lasted 39 days. [119], Bethlehem is home to the Palestinian Heritage Center, established in 1991. According to the Gospels (Matthew 2; Luke 2), Bethlehem was the site of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. The BJC Church app provides a simple way to. [127] There were 135 schools in the Bethlehem Governorate in 2006; 100 run the Education Ministry of the Palestinian National Authority, seven by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and 28 were private. 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