Jonathan Switzer: Home to Bethlehem for the Holidays

So, I find myself full of joy about Bethlehem.  It has become home for all of us followers of Christ.  Let’s go back there this season to visit as the family of God.




From the time of Jacob, a story began to develop around Bethlehem that was bathed in great pathos, conflict, evil and hope.  Why did God choose Bethlehem?

What was so special about Bethlehem?   It has come to represent so much.  In summary, Bethlehem represented the desire for love, honor and blessed children (Rachel/Leah).  It was founded by death giving birth (Rachel/Benjamin).  But then the Promised Land of Ephrathah (Bethlehem) had to be taken in a faith-filled war (Caleb).  For a while both good (Ibzan the judge) and bad (Jonathan, the idolatrous priest) came from Bethlehem and then tragedy struck her (raped concubine).  Ultimately, however, redemptive love (Ruth, Boaz) and shepherd kings (David) exalted Bethlehem’s heritage.

Put those together and you have the birth place of the Messiah who would balance grace and truth, righteousness and peace, justice and mercy.  Let’s look at Bethlehem’s story together.  It is the place where our deepest desires are walked out, where we must walk by faith, where our most sinful tendencies are exposed and ultimately Our Shepherd King redeems us with His love.  

Jacob and Rachel
It began with a tragic love story that expresses some of our deepest desires.  Jacob went to his uncle Laban’s house to find a wife.  (Gen 35:19)  When he arrived he saw Rachel at the well and we are told that he kissed her and wept with joy at that first meeting.  When Jacob told Laban that he wanted to marry Rachel, Laban said yes, for 7 years of work.  Then, wickedly, after seven years, Laban substituted Leah instead of Rachel in the midst of the drunkenness of the wedding.  Jacob angrily, however, agreed to work for Laban for seven more years for Rachel, because he loved her so much.  Laban agreed and so began Jacob’s family life.

So, Jacob loved Rachel.  Not so much Leah, who was said to have weak eyes.

But we have not made it to Bethlehem yet.  The next few years were a strange set of baby-wars between Leah and Rachel.  We need to understand what drove those baby wars to understand Bethlehem’s beginning and the Divine baby it would bring.  (Remember, this was the start of the twelve tribes of Israel!)

Leah had a baby first and, knowing how her husband did not love her, named the baby Rueben, saying, “God has seen my misery, now my husband will love me.”  Then Leah had a second, Simeon, where she said, “The Lord has heard that I am not loved.”  When Leah’s third was born she said hopefully, “Now, my husband will become attached to me.”  With the fourth, Judah, her self-esteem apparently had changed and she said, “I will praise the Lord.”

That’s right, over the course of her first four babies, Leah went from misery to praise.  The process began with the misery of one unloved, then awareness that God had heard about her unloved state, then hope for attachment and finally praise.  It is like the story of redemption in miniature.

Nevertheless, after Leah’s four babies, Rachel was still barren and she had become very envious.

Even if Jacob loved her instead of Leah, babies meant honor in this family.  So, in desperation, Rachel gave Jacob her maidservant.  They had a son, Dan, and Rachel said, “God has vindicated me and given me a son.”  (Though not her son, but her servant's)  Then she named her servant’s second son Naphtali, saying, “I have struggled with my sister and won.”

So much competition!?!  The names of the tribes of Israel apparently chronicle the jealous baby wars between Rachel and Leah.  Fascinating.

At that point, Leah saw all the babies Rachel’s servant was having and decided to give her servant to Jacob also.  (What a circus!?!)  Leah named her servant’s first son, Gad, saying, “what a good fortune.”  The second she named Asher saying, “how happy I am.”

We are told Leah actually purchased a night with Jacob from Rachel!  She again got pregnant and named the son Issachar saying, “God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband”!?! (Really!?!)  Then, Leah gave birth one last time and named him Zebulun saying, “God has given me six sons, my husband will honor me.”

So, follow the names of Leah's sons: after she went from misery to feeling heard, hope for attachment and praise she then went on to good fortune, happiness, feeling God’s reward and finally a sense of honor; all because of her sons.  Again, a miniature story of redemption.

However, Rachel had only gone from God has vindicated me to I beat my sister.  But then, finally, after all that, Rachel herself became pregnant.  She gave birth to Joseph and said, “God has taken away my disgrace, may he give me another son.”

Then, tragedy struck; and this is where our story finally turns to Bethlehem.  Rachel got pregnant a second time.  But, as she was delivering, near Ephrathah, which was to become Bethlehem, she died.  She named the son, Ben-oni saying, “Son of my trouble.”  But Jacob renamed him Benjamin saying, “Son of my right hand.”

And that is the auspicious beginning of our story about Bethlehem (Ephrathah)!  It was birthed as the location of the tragic finale’ of the baby competition between Rachel and Leah leading to the death of the wife Jacob loved.  Leah ended honored, rewarded and happy and Rachel ended dead but with no disgrace.

Jacob’s Choices as Father
Now, most of us know the stories of how Joseph and Benjamin, Rachel’s sons, were loved above and beyond the others by Jacob.  But, we may not know that at the end of his life Jacob prophesied negative things for his three oldest (Reuben, Simeon and Levi) because of their immorality and violence.  However, Judah, the fourth born, got much praise from Jacob.

Our story is about Bethlehem, so, this is important to notice!  First, Bethlehem would forever be the ignomius birth-place of Benjamin, Rachel’s second son to whom she died giving birth.  But Judah was the other son who received much praise from father Jacob.  We must keep that in mind as we keep following Bethlehem’s story.

Caleb and Bethlehem
Fast forward a few years and we come to Caleb, Joshua’s co-hort, as the Israelites were conquering the Promised Land.  Caleb was a descendant of Judah.  In his old age, he wanted to take the hill country of the Promised Land; that hill country is the land that happened to be around Bethlehem.

Joshua said yes.  So, Caleb, son of Judah, captured Bethlehem (still known as Ephrathah).  His son Hur was said to be the first born of Ephrathah, (which was to become Bethlehem).  (1 Chronicles 2:48-50) Hur then gave birth to Salma who we are told was the father of Bethlehem.  So, Caleb captured the area, his son Hur was the first born of Ephrathah and his grandson Salma was the father of Bethlehem.

Let’s keep putting it all together.  So, Bethlehem was the birth place of Benjamin, Rachel’s second son, but then became an important city in the tribe of Judah after Caleb took the promised land by faith.  As a result, it would seem, we will find a subtle not quite overt struggle between Benjamin and Judah over the next few years.  It is the struggle of those two tribes that would produce the great King David from whose lineage the Messiah would come.  It would seem that Rachel and Leah’s struggle continued in Benjamin and Judah!

Judges
Which brings us to the times of the Judges where Bethlehem played a key role in three stories.  First, we are told that Ibzan, (Judges 12:8) of Bethlehem led Israel for seven years.  He had thirty sons and daughters whom he all married off (daughters to other clans and wives for his sons from other clans).  Surely, it is prestigious for a judge to come from Bethlehem, especially one so virile!

The second story, (Judges 17-18) which probably preceded Ibzan’s chronologically, was about Jonathan, a descendant of Moses through Gershom, who was from Bethlehem. Jonathan became priest for Micah in the hills of Ephraim with Micah’s silver idols.  The story tells of Israel’s backsliding into idolatry.  Then, ignomiously, some Danites (firstborn of Rachel’s servant) came and stole Micah’s idols and priest and so, Jonathan, of Bethlehem, and his sons became their priests for generations.

Sadly, this was a Bethlehemite priest who was serving idolatry.  Not so good a heritage for Bethlehem!  Both the sons of Rachel (Danites) and Leah (Levi/Judah) were serving idolatry in that story.

In our third story, another Levite priest from Ephraim had a concubine from Bethlehem.  (Judges 19-21) She left him and went back to Bethlehem.  The Levite, however, went and got her back and, on his way home, stopped in Gibeon where the Benjamites (that’s right, those born of Rachel who died giving birth at Bethlehem, that is Ephrathah) horribly rape her all night and leave her dead in the morning.  In the ensuing melee’ all Israel nearly destroyed all of Benjamin, leaving only 600 men alive.  Tragically, Benjamin barely survived as a tribe, due to their wickedness that day.  Nevertheless, they did survive.  Is this Rachel “weeping for her children who are no more?” (Jer. 31:15)

So, let’s add these stories to what we already know.  Bethlehem had a righteous judge but also a less than righteous Levite who came from her.  She also had a woman whose rape and death almost resulted in the tribe of Benjamin’s annihilation.  Add that to Bethlehem being the Rachel-killing birth place of Benjamin and an important city in Judah originally settled by the great warrior, Caleb’s, children.  Bethlehem had had quite a history so far!  We find ourselves not quite proud of Bethlehem's past yet. 

Ruth
Yet, this brings us within just a few generations of David to Ruth.  Her choice to follow Naomi her widowed mother-in-law back to Bethlehem from Moab began another of the greatest love stories of the Bible.  Boaz redeemed her and she became the great grandmother of David.

(No wonder David later took his family to the King of Moab to ask for help when David’s family came to him at the Cave of Adullam where he was being chased by Saul, the Benjamite (1 Samuel 22).  His great grandmother Ruth was from Moab.  He had simply reached back into his roots for a place of safety.)

David
Let’s continue then with David.  After Saul, the Benjamite, was rejected as King by God, God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to the house of Jesse of Judah to anoint one of his sons king.  We are told that the elders of Bethlehem trembled at Samuel’s arrival.  Then Samuel consecrated the whole town (all the elders, Jesse and all David’s older brothers).  Finally, in front of them all, David was anointed to be king.

A few short years later, when things were getting very rough again, David found himself again at Adullam.  This time three of his mighty men overheard him wishing for water from the well in Bethlehem, where the Philistines were then in control a few miles to the East.  (2 Sam. 23:13) Courageously and loyally they decided to get that water for him, breaking through the Philistine line, getting the water and bringing it to David.  Interestingly, David found himself unwilling to drink it as it was obtained at the risk of the lives of his men.  Maybe, this excursion was led by (2 Chron 11:26) Elhanan, son of Dodo of Bethlehem, one of David’s mighty men.

Not too long after that, Asahel, David’s cousin was killed by Abner, Saul’s cousin, and buried in Bethlehem (2 Samuel 2:32).

So, then, much of the story of David is the story of a son of Judah who was crowned king after the failure of a son of Benjamin, Saul, to be a righteous king.  In fact, after Saul’s death their two houses clashed at Gibeon in Benjamin (2 Samuel 2:12) just like years earlier when the Bethlehemite concubine was raped and killed by the Benjamites.

Even though Jacob had loved Rachel more, it turned out that Leah’s influence on her children had perhaps left Judah more full of God’s grace.  Either way Judah rose in righteousness while Benjamin and Joseph fell into sin and failure.  Though, we must remember that all fell into sin in the desert and that even Judah fell into major sin and disgrace not much later.

God’s Promise to David
However, this brings us to Bethlehem’s greatest glory.  At the beginning of David’s reign over Jerusalem, after triumphantly bringing up the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, David desired to build a Temple for the Lord.  After the prophet Nathan encouraged it, Nathan then turned around and told David about a dream from God saying David was NOT to build the Temple.

Nevertheless, because of David’s heart for him, God promised David that his throne, house and kingdom would NEVER end.  God promised to make David’s name great and establish his throne forever.  2 Samuel 7:18-29 records David’s humbled response to this unexpected glorious promise from God.

Thus began the story that would transform not just the history of Jesse’s family, not just the little nation of Israel, but the history of the entire world.  David had gone from lowly shepherd boy of Bethlehem, son of Jesse to the Father of the line of Kings that would bring the eternal King of Kings who would restore the whole world in righteousness and justice.

The Messiah would be a shepherd king just like David.  In Psalm 132, the psalmist recorded Israel’s hope through David referring to Ephrathah (Bethlehem) where David was born.  The minor prophet Micah, however, recorded the words that would forever focus the attention of students of scripture on Bethlehem:

(Mic 5:2-5) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times…4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.   5 And he will be their peace.”

Conclusion
In conclusion, Bethlehem began in the insecurity of Rachel and Leah’s desire for Jacob’s love.  It was the pain of Rachel’s death while delivering Benjamin at Ephrathah started things off.  The story continued with the invasion of the Promised Land when Caleb, son of Judah whom Jacob had praised, captured Ephrathah (Bethlehem) and his grandson established it as Bethlehem.  The next few years were sketchy as both the righteous judge, Ibzan, and the idolatrous Levite, Jonathan, arose from there.  Then Benjamin was almost destroyed after his descendants viciously raped and killed a Bethlehemite concubine.

Finally, came the love story between Ruth and Boaz and their great grandson King David who received from God the glorious promise of an eternal throne.  From there out all the hope of Israel focused on David’s lineage.  All the prophets caught the significance with their hope-filled reminders to Israel of God’s power and faithfulness.  Psalm 132 and Micah 5:2-5 finally brought things into focus.  “Out of Bethlehem would come…”

And this set up the story of a babe in a manger, shepherds keeping watch in their fields and wise men coming from the East.  All this stirred the paranoia of King Herod and his vicious slaughter of children where, “Rachel…(was)…weeping for her children who were no more.”  (Matt 2:18)

And peace and joy were proclaimed in all the earth.

Out of a love story filled with jealousy and competition (Rachel and Leah), out of the fourth not first-born of Jacob (Judah), out of a warrior’s faith (Caleb), out of honor, dishonor and tragic evil (Judges), out of another love story this time of redemption (Ruth)…out of Bethlehem…arose the Shepherd King to whom God gave the greatest of all promises, “An eternal king who would bring peace to the whole earth.”

Bethlehem represents the desire for love, honor and blessed children (Rachel/Leah).  It was founded by death giving birth (Rachel/Benjamin).  But then the Promised Land of Ephrathah (Bethlehem) had to be taken in a faith-filled war (Caleb).  For a while both good (Ibzan the judge) and bad (Jonathan, the idolatrous priest) came from Bethlehem and then tragedy struck her (raped concubine).  Finally, however, redemptive love (Ruth, Boaz) and shepherd kings (David) exalted Bethlehem’s heritage.

Put those together and you have the birth place of the Messiah who would balance grace and truth, righteousness and peace, justice and mercy.  Out of Bethlehem…Romantic love, jealous competition, dishonor, courageous faith, honorable leadership, dishonorable idolatry, tragic evil, redemptive love and worldwide peace and joy.

This story is more relevant now than ever.

It’s good to be home again for Christmas.  Welcome back to Bethlehem.  May all nations come home to her again this year.