Editing Bethlehem (section)

===Israelite and Judean period===
Archaeological confirmation of Bethlehem as a city in the [[Kingdom of Judah]] was uncovered in 2012 at the archaeological dig at the [[City of David (historic)|City of David]] in the form of a ''[[Bulla (seal)|bulla]]'' (seal impression in dried clay) in [[Paleo-Hebrew alphabet|ancient Hebrew script]] that reads "From the town of Bethlehem to the King". According to the excavators, it was used to seal the string closing a shipment of grain, wine, or other goods sent as a tax payment in the 8th or 7th century BCE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=1938&module_id=#as|title=Israel Antiquities Authority|website=antiquities.org.il|access-date=May 23, 2012|archive-date=May 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527123200/http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=1938&module_id=#as|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld_Bibel_in_Bildern_1860_106.png|thumb|David, pouring out water drawn from the well of Bethlehem in this 1860 woodcut by [[Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld]], which illustrates [[s:Bible (King James)/2 Samuel#23:15|2 Samuel 23:15–17]]|left]]

[[Biblical studies|Biblical scholars]] believe Bethlehem, located in the "hill country" of [[Judea]], may be the same as the Biblical [[Ephrath]],<ref>{{bibleverse||Gen.|35:16}}, {{bibleverse||Gen.|48:7}}, {{bibleverse||Ruth|4:11}}</ref> which means "fertile", as there is a reference to it in the [[Book of Micah]] as Bethlehem Ephrathah or Bethlehem Ephratah.<ref>{{bibleverse||Micah|5:2}}</ref> The [[Hebrew Bible]] also calls it Beth-Lehem [[Tribe of Judah|Judah]],<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Sam|17:12}}</ref> and the [[New Testament]] describes it as the "City of David".<ref name="qjukjz">{{bibleverse||Luke|2:4|KJV}}</ref> It is first mentioned in the Bible as the place where the matriarch [[Rachel]] died and was buried "by the wayside" ({{Bibleverse|Genesis|48:7}}). [[Rachel's Tomb]], the traditional grave site, stands at the entrance to Bethlehem. According to the [[Book of Ruth]], the valley to the east is where [[Ruth (biblical figure)|Ruth]] of [[Moab]] gleaned the fields and returned to town with [[Naomi (biblical figure)|Naomi]]. In the [[Books of Samuel]], Bethlehem is mentioned as the home of [[Jesse (biblical figure)|Jesse]],<ref>{{bibleverse||1Sam|16:1}}</ref> father of King [[David]] of [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)|Israel]], and the site of David's [[Anointing|anointment]] by the prophet [[Samuel]].<ref>{{bibleverse||1Sam|16:4–13}}</ref> It was from the well of Bethlehem that three of his warriors brought him water when he was hiding in the cave of [[Adullam]].<ref>{{bibleverse||2Sam|23:13–17}}</ref>

Writing in the 4th century, the [[Itinerarium Burdigalense|Pilgrim of Bordeaux]] reported that the sepulchers of David, [[Ezekiel]], [[Asaph (biblical figure)|Asaph]], [[Job (biblical figure)|Job]], [[Jesse (biblical figure)|Jesse]], and [[Solomon]] were located near Bethlehem.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.centuryone.com/bordeaux.html |title=The Bordeaux Pilgrim @ |publisher=Centuryone.com|access-date=August 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224014259/http://www.centuryone.com/bordeaux.html |archive-date=February 24, 2012}}</ref>