The term "Beth-lehemite" refers to an inhabitant or native of Bethlehem, a town located in the territory of Judah, approximately six miles south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem holds significant historical and theological importance in the biblical narrative, being the birthplace of King David and, according to the New Testament, Jesus Christ.

Biblical References:

1. David's Ancestry and Early Life:
Bethlehem is most notably recognized as the hometown of David, the youngest son of Jesse, who was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be king over Israel. The Bible records, "Now David was the son of the Ephrathite from Bethlehem in Judah, the man named Jesse, who had eight sons" (1 Samuel 17:12). David's association with Bethlehem is foundational to his identity as a "Beth-lehemite."

2. The House of Jesse:
Jesse, David's father, is frequently identified as a Beth-lehemite. In 1 Samuel 16:1, the Lord instructs Samuel, "Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected a king for Myself from among his sons" . This passage underscores the significance of Bethlehem as the origin of Israel's future king.

3. The Lineage of Jesus:
The prophetic significance of Bethlehem is highlighted in the prophecy of Micah, which foretells the birthplace of the Messiah: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" (Micah 5:2). This prophecy is fulfilled in the New Testament with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, as recorded in Matthew 2:1 and Luke 2:4-7.

4. The Story of Ruth:
The Book of Ruth also ties Bethlehem to the lineage of David. Ruth, a Moabite woman, becomes the great-grandmother of David through her marriage to Boaz, a prominent Beth-lehemite. Ruth 1:22 states, "So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest" . This narrative further cements Bethlehem's role in the Davidic line.

5. Bethlehem in the Time of the Judges:
During the period of the Judges, Bethlehem is mentioned in the context of the account of the Levite and his concubine. Judges 19:1-2 notes, "In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite living in a remote part of the hill country of Ephraim took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah" . This account, while tragic, illustrates the town's existence and its inhabitants' interactions during a tumultuous period in Israel's history.

Cultural and Historical Context:

Bethlehem, meaning "House of Bread," was a small but significant town in ancient Israel. Its strategic location near the main trade routes contributed to its historical prominence. The town's fertile surroundings made it an ideal place for agriculture, particularly grain production, which is reflected in its name.

Bethlehem's role as the birthplace of David and Jesus has made it a focal point of Christian theology and pilgrimage. The town's prophetic and historical connections to the lineage of David and the birth of the Messiah underscore its enduring significance in the biblical narrative.

Conclusion:

The term "Beth-lehemite" encapsulates the rich historical and theological heritage of Bethlehem as a pivotal location in the biblical account. From the anointing of David to the birth of Jesus, Bethlehem's legacy as a town of divine promise and fulfillment continues to resonate throughout Scripture.BETH-LEHEMITE

beth'-le-hem-it (beth ha-lachmi): An inhabitant of Bethlehem, a town in Judah, 5 miles South of Jerusalem. Jesse is so named in 1 Samuel 16:18; 1 Samuel 17:58, and Elhanan in 2 Samuel 21:19. The children of Bethlehem are referred to in Ezra 2:21 Nehemiah 7:26; 1 Esdras 5:17.

1022. Beth Hallachmi -- an inhabitant of Bethlehem
... an inhabitant of Bethlehem. Transliteration: Beth Hallachmi Phonetic Spelling:
(bayth hal-lakh-mee') Short Definition: Bethlehemite. ... Bethlehemite. ...
/hebrew/1022.htm - 6k

Commencement of the Legends Concerning Jesus --His Own Idea of his ...
... objection. Perhaps it did not present itself in Galilee, where the idea that
the son of David should be a Bethlehemite was less spread. ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter xv commencement of the.htm

The Call of David.
... 1. David was the son of a Bethlehemite, one among the families of Israel, with nothing
apparently to recommend him to God; the youngest of his brethren, and ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon iv the call of.htm

Friendship; Or, David and Jonathan
... killing Goliath, and coming back to Saul with the giant's head in his hand, and
answering modestly to him, 'I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/david/sermon v friendship or david.htm

The Kingdom of all Israel.
... while an evil spirit was permittted to trouble his soul, Samuel's last great act
was to anoint the youngest son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, the great grandchild ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vi the kingdom of.htm

The Shepherd-King
... fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for
I have provided Me a king among his sons.2. And Samuel said, How can I go? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the shepherd-king.htm

David's victory Over the Giant
... Then one of the young men said, "I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who
is a skilled musician, a strong and able man, a soldier, careful in speech ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/davids victory over the giant.htm

Judges and Ruth.
... (2) Boaz the rich Bethlehemite accepting this strange woman in an illustration of
the redemptive work of Jesus. The Key-words are love and faith. Analysis. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter vii judges and ruth.htm

The Power of a Pebble.
... said,. "Whose son art thou, thou young man?" and David answered,. "I am
the son of thy servant Jesse, the Bethlehemite.". And Saul ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xx the power of.htm

History of the Interpretation.
... Bethlehem is mentioned here as the birth-place of the Messiah indirectly only,"in
so far only as the Messiah was to be descended from David the Bethlehemite. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/history of the interpretation.htm

The Child Jesus Brought from Egypt to Nazareth.
... Now, Nazareth, if derived from netzer, answered to its name, and was a despised
place ( John 1:45, 46), and Jesus, though in truth a Bethlehemite, bore the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xv the child jesus brought.htm

Bethlehemite (4 Occurrences)
...BETH-LEHEMITE. beth'-le-hem-it (beth ha-lachmi): An inhabitant of Bethlehem, a town
in Judah, 5 miles South of Jerusalem. ...Bethlehemite (4 Occurrences). ...
/b/bethlehemite.htm - 8k

Beth-lehemite (4 Occurrences)
Beth-lehemite. Bethlehemite, Beth-lehemite. Bethlehemjudah . Int. ... (ASV BBE JPS
WBS YLT). Bethlehemite, Beth-lehemite. Bethlehemjudah . Reference Bible.
/b/beth-lehemite.htm - 8k

Jaareoregim (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Forests of the weavers, a Bethlehemite (2 Samuel
21:19), and the father of Elhanan, who slew Goliath. ...
/j/jaareoregim.htm - 8k

Jaare-oregim (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Forests of the weavers, a Bethlehemite (2 Samuel
21:19), and the father of Elhanan, who slew Goliath. ...
/j/jaare-oregim.htm - 8k

Elhanan (4 Occurrences)
... 19) it is recorded that "Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the ...
at Gob; and Elhanan, the son of Jaare-oregim the Beth-lehemite, slew Goliath ...
/e/elhanan.htm - 10k

Jesse (45 Occurrences)
... There seem to be three main veins in the narrative, so far as Jesse is concerned.
(1) In 1 Samuel 16:1-13, where Jesse is called the Bethlehemite. ...
/j/jesse.htm - 32k

Dodo (5 Occurrences)
... He was the same with Dodai mentioned in 1 Chronicles 27:4. (3.) A Bethlehemite,
and father of Elhanan, who was one of David's thirty heroes (2 Samuel 23:24). ...
/d/dodo.htm - 9k

Bethlehem (49 Occurrences)
... 2. David the Bethlehemite: Ruth, famous chiefly as the ancestress of David, and
of the Messiah, settled in Bethlehem with her second husband Boaz, and it is ...
/b/bethlehem.htm - 31k

Beth-lehem (49 Occurrences)
... Bethlehem, Beth-lehem. Bethlehemite . ... Whose son art thou, thou young man?' And
David answered: 'I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.' (Root in ...
/b/beth-lehem.htm - 21k

Bethlehemjudah (9 Occurrences)

/b/bethlehemjudah.htm - 9k

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