Why was Jesus Born in Bethlehem Ephrata?
The Bible is filled with details, many of which we often overlook and do not understand. Every word and every detail in the Holy Scriptures is important. We often don’t take the time or know how to find the significance of each detail.
We often gloss over the fact that Jesus the Messiah was born in Bethlehem Ephrata without understanding the significance of that fact. First it is necessary to understand the Bethlehem Ephrata is different than the city of Bethlehem. The city of Bethlehem is where the wealthy people lived. They lived in a walled city and enjoyed luxuries that only the wealthy could afford. Some of the biblical characters that lived in the city of Bethlehem included Naomi, Boaz, Jesse, and Rehoboam.
The village of Bethlehem was the farm community that grew food and raised sheep and goats for the city of Bethlehem and for the Temple. The citizens of the village of Bethlehem were shepherds. They slept in tents, on the ground in fair weather, or in the shepherd’s inn. The main structure in the village of Bethlehem was known as the Tower of the Flock. This was a watchtower, which stood in a strategic location so a person could be on the guard against danger such as intruders, bad weather, or predators.
Ephrata is the Hebrew word for fruit or food. BethlehemEphrata was the Bethlehem that provided fruit (food). This was the village outside the city of Bethlehem. Bethlehem Ephrata is where Rachel was buried, Ruth met Boaz and slept at his feet on the threshing floor, Nitzevet (King David’s mother) was sent to live by her husband Jesse, David was born, and Jesus was born.
Why was Jesus born in the farm village rather than the city where the wealthy and royalty lived? Wasn’t the luxurious city a more appropriate place for the Messiah to be born? We know that Micah 5:2 prophesies that Jesus the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The year Jesus was born Caesar Augustus ordered a census of his empire so that he would have a basis of taxing the people. Every person had to return to the city from which his family came. In Middle Eastern culture a person’s city of origin is the city his parent’s family lived. Normally the children have a claim to the family’s plot of land in their home city.
It is true that Joseph had to go the Bethlehem Ephrata because he was of David’s family but so was Mary. Joseph came through the royal line of David while Mary came through the priestly line of David. Luke refers to Bethlehem Ephrata as the City of David because it was known as the city where David was born and raised. David’s father and brothers lived in the City of Bethlehem but David was born and grew up in the village of Bethlehem, which was also called Bethlehem Ephrata or the City of David.
One of the details of scripture that we often overlook that gives a clue why Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem Ephrata is found in Luke 2:5. The KVJ text says Joseph went “to be taxed with Mary.” We often read it as Mary went with Joseph but that is not what the text says. The original Greek is even clearer here. Mary is the one who had to go to Bethlehem Ephrata because it was ordained of God that she go there to birth the Messiah. Joseph went with her. He was also of the house and lineage of David.
Mary’s mother, Anne, was from a priestly family. Ann’s priestly family responsibility was to provide saffron for the Temple sacrifices. Saffron is a yellow spice that comes from the crocus flower that grows naturally around Bethlehem Ephrata. Anne’s family owned property in Jerusalem near the pool of Bethesda where they sold saffron to pilgrims preparing their lambs for sacrifice. This is where St. Anne’s Church stands today. Although Anneowned business property in the city of Jerusalem, her family homestead was still in Bethlehem Ephrata.
God ordained the details of Jesus’ birth so that He came to this earth in the most significant place possible through the least likely means so that there is no question that His birth was miraculously orchestrated by God. Although Bethlehem Ephrata was a lowly farm community, it was the most significant place for the Messiah to be born. Not only did the saffron for Temple worship come from Bethlehem Ephrata, many (if not all) of the resources for Temple worship came from Bethlehem Ephrata, including the sacrificial Passover lambs. God intentionally chose Bethlehem Ephrata as the birthplace of the Messiah. Jesus was born in this holy priestly city to satisfy all of the requirements of the sacrifices for our sins. He came to this earth in the lowliest place, gave His life for us so that we might have life forever. He truly is the Messiah!
© Dr. Steven L Smith 2016
We often gloss over the fact that Jesus the Messiah was born in Bethlehem Ephrata without understanding the significance of that fact. First it is necessary to understand the Bethlehem Ephrata is different than the city of Bethlehem. The city of Bethlehem is where the wealthy people lived. They lived in a walled city and enjoyed luxuries that only the wealthy could afford. Some of the biblical characters that lived in the city of Bethlehem included Naomi, Boaz, Jesse, and Rehoboam.
The village of Bethlehem was the farm community that grew food and raised sheep and goats for the city of Bethlehem and for the Temple. The citizens of the village of Bethlehem were shepherds. They slept in tents, on the ground in fair weather, or in the shepherd’s inn. The main structure in the village of Bethlehem was known as the Tower of the Flock. This was a watchtower, which stood in a strategic location so a person could be on the guard against danger such as intruders, bad weather, or predators.
Ephrata is the Hebrew word for fruit or food. BethlehemEphrata was the Bethlehem that provided fruit (food). This was the village outside the city of Bethlehem. Bethlehem Ephrata is where Rachel was buried, Ruth met Boaz and slept at his feet on the threshing floor, Nitzevet (King David’s mother) was sent to live by her husband Jesse, David was born, and Jesus was born.
Why was Jesus born in the farm village rather than the city where the wealthy and royalty lived? Wasn’t the luxurious city a more appropriate place for the Messiah to be born? We know that Micah 5:2 prophesies that Jesus the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The year Jesus was born Caesar Augustus ordered a census of his empire so that he would have a basis of taxing the people. Every person had to return to the city from which his family came. In Middle Eastern culture a person’s city of origin is the city his parent’s family lived. Normally the children have a claim to the family’s plot of land in their home city.
It is true that Joseph had to go the Bethlehem Ephrata because he was of David’s family but so was Mary. Joseph came through the royal line of David while Mary came through the priestly line of David. Luke refers to Bethlehem Ephrata as the City of David because it was known as the city where David was born and raised. David’s father and brothers lived in the City of Bethlehem but David was born and grew up in the village of Bethlehem, which was also called Bethlehem Ephrata or the City of David.
One of the details of scripture that we often overlook that gives a clue why Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem Ephrata is found in Luke 2:5. The KVJ text says Joseph went “to be taxed with Mary.” We often read it as Mary went with Joseph but that is not what the text says. The original Greek is even clearer here. Mary is the one who had to go to Bethlehem Ephrata because it was ordained of God that she go there to birth the Messiah. Joseph went with her. He was also of the house and lineage of David.
Mary’s mother, Anne, was from a priestly family. Ann’s priestly family responsibility was to provide saffron for the Temple sacrifices. Saffron is a yellow spice that comes from the crocus flower that grows naturally around Bethlehem Ephrata. Anne’s family owned property in Jerusalem near the pool of Bethesda where they sold saffron to pilgrims preparing their lambs for sacrifice. This is where St. Anne’s Church stands today. Although Anneowned business property in the city of Jerusalem, her family homestead was still in Bethlehem Ephrata.
God ordained the details of Jesus’ birth so that He came to this earth in the most significant place possible through the least likely means so that there is no question that His birth was miraculously orchestrated by God. Although Bethlehem Ephrata was a lowly farm community, it was the most significant place for the Messiah to be born. Not only did the saffron for Temple worship come from Bethlehem Ephrata, many (if not all) of the resources for Temple worship came from Bethlehem Ephrata, including the sacrificial Passover lambs. God intentionally chose Bethlehem Ephrata as the birthplace of the Messiah. Jesus was born in this holy priestly city to satisfy all of the requirements of the sacrifices for our sins. He came to this earth in the lowliest place, gave His life for us so that we might have life forever. He truly is the Messiah!
© Dr. Steven L Smith 2016