Bethlehem and Ephrat

Bethlehem is also called Ephrat:

“Ephrath, that’s Bethlehem.”
Gen 48,7, compare Ruth 4,11

Ephrat is also said to have been the father of Bethlehem:

“Pnuel, the father of Gedor; and Ezer, the father of Husha. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.”
1 Chronicles 4:4

Bethlehem is Ephrath, but also on the way to Ephrath (Gen 35,16). Bethlehem lies between Jerusalem and Ephrath. History suggests that at least some of Ephrat’s descendants lived in Bethlehem. The two names could be mentioned in the same breath:

“And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too small to be among the thousands of Judah, out of you will come forth for me who is to be ruler over Israel; and his goings forth are from ancient times, from the days of eternity.”
Mi 5,1

The additional letter “a” in Ephrata is said by some to mean “to/after”. In context, therefore, “after Ephrat”. Bethlehem-Ephrata is then “Bethlehem, which is on the way to Ephrat”. There is also the place Caleb-Ephrata (1 Chronicles 2:24). As there is only one mention of it in the Bible and no further details, it remains a place of secondary importance. This probably has nothing to do with Bethlehem-Ephratha.

King David and Bethlehem

Bethlehem was inconspicuous in size. But it was here that David was born, who was later to be king over Israel:

“Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons.”
1Sam 17:12

It does not end with David, because there is a messianic promise:

“And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too small to be among the thousands of Judah, out of you will come forth for me who is to be ruler over Israel; and his goings forth are from ancient times, from the days of eternity.”
Micah 5:1

According to the New Testament, this was fulfilled at the birth of Jesus:

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi came from the east to Jerusalem, saying: Where is the King of the Jews who has been born? For we have seen his star in the Orient and have come to pay him homage. And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him: and he gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, and inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means the least among the princes of Judah, for out of you will come a leader who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Mt 2:1-6

The Messiah was to be in the lineage of David (Jer 23:5). He was even to be like King David (Jer 30:9).

Old caravan routes

Bethlehem, although inconspicuous, was located in an important place, between Jerusalem and Egypt. Anyone traveling from Jerusalem or coming from Egypt passed by Bethlehem. Travelers came via various routes. One path followed the coast. Another connection was a little further inland, but parallel to the coast. This road ran from Hebron to Jerusalem and then passed Bethlehem.

The book of Jeremiah mentions an inn in Bethlehem:

“And they departed, and stopped at the inn of Kimham, which is near Bethlehem, to depart, that they might come into Egypt.”
Jer 41:17

Kimham served David and may have been given Bethlehem or at least a place to stay there (2 Sam 19:37-40). It could later have been converted into a hostel or caravanserai. That would be the “Kimham’s hostel”.

The word for hostel is usually described as a traveler’s hostel, even a caravanserai. Imagine that caravans often traveled thousands of kilometers along ancient routes. There were caravanserais at distances of about a day’s march (20-25 km) where people could find shelter, water and rest. Such routes can be found throughout Israel and the entire Middle East. Of course, there was also other accommodation. However, those who came from Egypt and spent the night in Bethlehem could walk the last 5-6 km to Jerusalem the next day and arrive there fresh.

Was Jesus born in a stable?

In the Gospels we read how Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4ff). It also says:

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:7

No room in the hostel, but in the manger. This is why, according to tradition, Jesus was born in a stable. The word for hostel can also refer to a guest room. There is no mention of a stable. Consider that simple houses and caravanserais provided accommodation for both humans and animals. This has the advantage that the animals warm the house on cold days. The part for the people was usually a little higher. Between the part for people and animals was the manger. It is easy to place Jesus in the manger from the place or room they stayed, which was right next to the animals. No one had to go to an external stable for this. Everything took place under one roof.

Inconspicuous

The stories about Bethlehem are amazing. A small village becomes the birthplace of a legendary king of Israel. It is also said to be the birthplace of the Messiah. That is special. When special things happen, they do not require special circumstances in the biblical narrative. There is room for the inconspicuous in particular. The reason for this is obvious: nothing could happen here through our own efforts. God’s actions, however, turn inconspicuous places into the birthplaces of kings and saviors. The crucial point here is that God himself acts.

Much later, Paul writes about today’s church:

“Look at your calling, brethren; there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but the foolish things of the world God chooses to put to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world God chooses to put to shame the things which are strong. God chooses the lowly things of the world and those rejected by it, even the things that are of no value in it, to put to shame the things that are of value in it, so that no flesh may boast in the sight of God.”
1Cor 1,26-29

No pious hypocrisy, no outstanding characteristics are required for something to be chosen by God. The inconspicuous is chosen by God so that He can make something out of the inconspicuous. This is the basis.