Bethlehem in Judah
Not to be confused with Bethlehem in Galilee.
The City of David where Jesus was born.
Inhabitants or Natives[edit | edit source]
Anne, the hostess of the holy Family, killed in the massacre of Herod, the twelve shepherds of the Nativity, Hezekiah the innkeeper who refused to receive the holy Family, the holy innocents, the two thousand babies massacred by Herod the Great, Elkanah and Elijah, the brothers of Johanna of Chuza.[1]
Description[edit | edit source]
The City[edit | edit source]
"I see Bethlehem, small and white, gathered like a brood of chickens under the stars. Two main streets divide the town crosswise: one coming from beyond the town, and it is the main road that continues on the other side, the other road runs across the town, from one side to the other, but does not proceed further. There are other small streets dividing the town into many sections, without the slightest resemblance to a road layout as we know it, but suited to both the ground, on various levels, and to the various houses built here and there, according to the characteristics of the ground and the whims of the builder. Some run to the right, others to the left, some at a corner with the road skirting them, which consequently seems like a ribbon unwinding tortuously instead of being a straight one running from one end to the other without any diversion. Now and again there is a little square serving either for a market, or a fountain, or because, due to the total lack of a building layout, there is a small piece of sloping ground, not suitable for any structure."[2]
The Cave (the Manger)[edit | edit source]
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"They hurry to the «den». It is really a den. Among the ruins of an old building there is a hole, beyond which there is a grotto, an excavation in the mountain, rather than a grotto. It seems to consist of the foundations of the old building, with the roof formed by rubble supported by coarse tree trunks. There is hardly any light, and to see better Joseph pulls out tinder and flint and he lights a little lamp that he takes out of the knapsack he is carrying across his shoulders. He goes in and is greeted by a bellow. «Come in, Mary. It is empty. There is only an ox.» Joseph smiles. «It’s better than nothing!…»"[3]Besides GRM 207, the manger is located near the ruins of the David's Tower, after crossing a stream.
Notable Facts[edit | edit source]
It is where Jesus was born.[4] It is also the site of the Adoration of the Shepherds,[5] then of the Magi,[6] and the site of the massacre of the innocents.
Its Name[edit | edit source]
בֵּית לֶחֶם (Beth Lehem)[7]
Bethlehem means "the house of bread." First called Ephrathah "rich in fruit".[8] Other names: Beit Lahm, Bet Lehem, Beth-Lehem, Beth-lehem-ephratah, Bethlehemjudah, Bit-Lahmi, Ephratah, Ephrath.
Where is it mentioned in the work?[edit | edit source]
GRM 22 GRM 28 GRM 29 GRM 30 GRM 31 GRM 34 GRM 35 GRM 73 GRM 74 GRM 81
GRM 207
GRM 538 GRM 539 GRM 577
GRM 601 GRM 628
Learn More About This Place[edit | edit source]
City of David 9 km south of Jerusalem. According to prophecies, the Messiah was to be born there.[9]
"The distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem is long: nearly 150 kilometers. At the donkey's pace, it took four full days." This is the journey Joseph and the pregnant Mary made in early December to fulfill the requirements of the Roman census."[10]Excerpt from the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel by Maria Valtorta, by Jean-François Lavère:
The city is located 8 km south of Jerusalem. It is mentioned several times in the Bible. It is the birthplace of David. Rachel was buried there (Gn 35,19), and Ruth and Boaz lived there (Ru 1,1-2).The hometown of Jesus, the City of David is the birthplace of Jesus, the site of the Adoration of the Magi and of the massacre of the innocents. "But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born the Ruler".[11]
Thirty years later, Jesus returns there on a pilgrimage with disciples, then with the Virgin Mary who exclaims: "There is Bethlehem! Oh! Dear land of My fathers, you gave Me the first kiss of My Son! You opened your door, as good and fragrant as the bread of which you bear the name, to give the True Bread to the world dying of starvation! Like a mother, in whom there is still Rachel’s maternal love, you embraced Me, o holy land of David’s Bethlehem, first temple of the Saviour, of the morning Star born of Jacob to show Mankind the road to Heaven!".[12]
It is also in Bethlehem that the apostle Thomas, despondent, finds refuge on the fifth day after the Passion. He testifies: "I wandered through the hills of Judea and yesterday I ended up in Bethlehem, in its cave. Like a fool I cried… I slept among the rubble and it was there that Elijah found me".[13]
In her descriptions of Bethlehem, Maria Valtorta cites several remarkable elements: the David's Tower, the Tomb of Rachel, the Cave of the Nativity and a nearby stream (the wadi El Djemel). (For more details, see these terms.).
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Nativity Hill seen from the north, Bethlehem, 2022.
Nativity Basilica, Bethlehem, 2022.
Explore[edit | edit source]
• 31° 42’ 20’’ N / 35° 12’ 30’’ E
• +750m