The town of Bethlehem is located in the Judaean Hills in territory that has been occupied by Israel since 1967. The site is significant for both Jews and Christians. In Judaism, it is important as the birthplace of David, who became king of Israel in about 1000 BC. In Christianity, Bethlehem is important as the place where Jesus Christ was born.

History

Bethlehem is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with Rachel, who died near there. It is the setting for most of the “Book of Ruth” and was the home of her descendant, King David. In Bethlehem, King David was anointed king of Israel by the prophet Samuel. Later, a Roman garrison was established in Bethlehem in AD 135 during the Second Jewish Revolt led by Bar Kokhba.

On the site where Jesus is believed to have been born, in what is now the heart of Bethlehem, stands the Church of the Nativity. One of the oldest Christian churches in existence, it was built in its present form by the emperor Justinian I, who ruled the Byzantine Empire from 527 to 565. Over the centuries, people of various faiths have come into conflict over control of the site. The church is now divided between the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Armenian Orthodox faiths.

In the 5th century AD, St. Jerome built a monastery in Bethlehem. There, with the help of Palestinian rabbis, he translated the Old Testament into Latin from the original Hebrew. This, together with Jerome's earlier translation of the New Testament, make up the Vulgate, which is the standard Latin translation of the Bible used by the Roman Catholic Church.

Bethlehem today

Following World War I (1914–18), Palestine, including the modern town of Bethlehem, was placed under the control of England. The town was part of lands annexed by the country of Jordan in 1950. Since the Six-Day War (1967), it has been in the West Bank territory under Israeli administration.

Modern Bethlehem is an agricultural and trade center. Its other industries include tourism and the manufacture of religious articles. Because of the town's religious significance, there are many churches, schools, and convents in the area. A university was established in Bethlehem in 1973 and offers instruction in both Arabic and English. At the end of the 20th century, Bethlehem had a population of about 20,000.