The birth of Jesus is passed over by Matthew with great economy. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod (1). No stable, no shepherds; just Bethlehem in Herod’s day. Bethlehem had a long history in Israel. It was here that Jacob buried his beloved Rachel, when she died giving birth to Benjamin.1 It was here that Benjamin’s descendant, David, was born.2 For ever afterwards it would be known as ‘the city of David’. What
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