The BibleGospel Companion

Bethlehem

בֵּית לֶ֫חֶם · bet le.chem · H1035H1 mention, all in Joshua

Where it is

32.74° N, 35.19° E

Coordinates and map: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding · CC BY 4.0 · drawn without map tiles

Mentioned most in

Counted from 1 references · STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

About this place

Bethlehem, mentioned in Joshua 19:15, is a town distinct from the more famous Bethlehem in Judah. This Bethlehem was located in the territory allotted to the tribe of Zebulun during the division of the Promised Land.

The name Bethlehem means "house of bread" in Hebrew, suggesting that the area was known for its fertility or grain production. The town is listed among other cities in Zebulun's inheritance, such as Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem, indicating its geographical proximity to these places.

Zebulun's territory was located in the northern part of Canaan, in the region of Galilee. The exact location of this Bethlehem is uncertain, but it was likely situated within the boundaries of Zebulun, which stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River.

No other information about this Bethlehem is provided in the Bible, and it is not mentioned in any other historical or archaeological context. Its inclusion in the list of Zebulun's towns serves to distinguish it from the Bethlehem in Judah and to provide a more complete picture of the tribal allotments in the Promised Land.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

1 reference, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

Joshua 1 mention

What the dictionary says

House of bread.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources