|
Topic:
Bethlehem - Geography
beth'-le-hem (bethlechem; Baithleem, or Bethleem, "house of
David," or possibly "the house of Lakhmu," an Assyrian
deity):
Bethlehem Judah, or EPHRATH or EPHRATHAH (which see) is now Beit Lahm
(Arabic = "house of meat"), 5 miles South of Jerusalem and
2,350 ft. above sea level. It occupies an outstanding position upon a
spur running East from the watershed with deep valleys to the Northeast
and South. It is just off the main road to Hebron and the south, but
upon the highroad to Tekoa and En-gedi. The position is one of natural
strength; it was occupied by a garrison of the Philistines in the days
of David (2 Sam 23:14; 1 Ch 11:16) and was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Ch
11:6). The surrounding country is fertile, cornfields, fig and olive
yards and vineyards abound. Bethlehem is not naturally well supplied
with water, the nearest spring is 800 yds. to the Southeast, but for
many centuries the "low level aqueduct" from "Solomon's
Pools" in the ArTas valley, which has here been tunneled through
the hill, has been tapped by the inhabitants; there are also many
rock-cut cisterns.
Source: Erdman's Bible Encyclopedia, 1939, Erdman Publishing
Contributor: E. W. G. Masterman
If these words have been a blessing,
please forward them to a friend
These words were posted at one of Shepherd's Care Ministries Sites
called Wisdom Minute. This site is located at:
http://www.findthepower.com/wisdomminute
Shepherd's Care Ministries Main Site is located at:
http://www.findthepower.com/ |
