Passover Lamb during the 2nd Temple Era

[Blien]

Some of you here know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem-Ephrathah not Bethlehem (there were two). What's special about Bethlehem-Ephrathah, is that it was a very small village where its sole purpose was to raise the sacrificial lambs that would be used in the Temple.

I'm curious though, where did this knowledge of the purpose of Bethlehem-Ephrathah come from? Did it come from historical documents or the Bible? I'm having a hard time finding the information.

[wyguy]

I'm curious though, where did this knowledge of the purpose of Bethlehem-Ephrathah come from?

God.

[Guest shiloh357]

Some of you here know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem-Ephrathah not Bethlehem (there were two). What's special about Bethlehem-Ephrathah, is that it was a very small village where its sole purpose was to raise the sacrificial lambs that would be used in the Temple.

I'm curious though, where did this knowledge of the purpose of Bethlehem-Ephrathah come from? Did it come from historical documents or the Bible? I'm having a hard time finding the information.

I'm curious where the knowledge that Jesus was born in Bethlehem-Ephrathah and not Bethlehem came from.

My Bible, and every Bible I could search on Biblegateway.com says "Bethlehem". My Interlinear Study Bible says Bethlehem.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

(Mic 5:2)

It was misquoted by the priests in Mat. 2:6.

[Blien]

Some of you here know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem-Ephrathah not Bethlehem (there were two). What's special about Bethlehem-Ephrathah, is that it was a very small village where its sole purpose was to raise the sacrificial lambs that would be used in the Temple.

I'm curious though, where did this knowledge of the purpose of Bethlehem-Ephrathah come from? Did it come from historical documents or the Bible? I'm having a hard time finding the information.

I'm curious where the knowledge that Jesus was born in Bethlehem-Ephrathah and not Bethlehem came from.

My Bible, and every Bible I could search on Biblegateway.com says "Bethlehem". My Interlinear Study Bible says Bethlehem.

Prophecy in the old testament..

Micah 5:2

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Too little to be among the clans of Judah,

From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel

His goings forth are from long ago,

From the days of eternity."

Matthew references it in the second chapter..

Matthew 2:3-6

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

[Blien]

Please Google it. And look in your Bible because the verse from Mathew I gave you has a footnote referring to Bethlehem-Ephrathah. There were two Bethelem's one in Judah and one in Israel. Bethlehem-Ephratha, which is in Judah, is where Jesus was born..

I really don't want to get into a debate about this because I'm looking for the answer to my original question if others know about it. So lets not steer the topic into a different direction.

I ask again, does anyone know where it's recorded that Bethlehem-Ephrathah was the village where they prepared the passover lambs?

[yaright]

Please Google it. And look in your Bible because the verse from Mathew I gave you has a footnote referring to Bethlehem-Ephrathah. There were two Bethelem's one in Judah and one in Israel. Bethlehem-Ephratha, which is in Judah, is where Jesus was born..

I really don't want to get into a debate about this because I'm looking for the answer to my original question if others know about it. So lets not steer the topic into a different direction.

I ask again, does anyone know where it's recorded that Bethlehem-Ephrathah was the village where they prepared the passover lambs?

I saw some curious thing in the language you are looking for, so I opened my Holman bible dictionary and found something, but I'm not sure if this is what you might be looking for.

"A field southeast of town has been identified as the place where the shepherds had the vision of the angels. Place name used by Micah 5;2 to designate birthplace of new David who would come from Bethlehem, that of Jesse, David's father (1 Samuel 17;12)."

David was known as a fierce fighter for his flock of sheep. I know Jesus took the stand for His flock. I know by experience that from the flock, a lamb was sacrificed for the passover. Is there a correlation between what you are looking for and the flocks from which the lamb of sacrifice came? Your question is relevant to a powerful understanding. I wish I could help more.

[Fez]

I did a search and came up with this:-

Net Bible

There are a lot of links to different verses stemming from Micah 5:2. And interestiing question!

[Fez]

This is also a good source for research....

Migdal Eder (the Tower of the flocks)

"According to Edersheim in The Life And Times Of Jesus The Messiah, in Book 2, Chapter 6, this Migdal Eder was not "the watchtower for the ordinary flocks that pastured on the barren sheep ground beyond Bethlehem, but it lay close to the town, on the road to Jerusalem." A passage from the Mishnah leads to the conclusion that 'the flocks, which pastured there were destined for Temple sacrifices..." (Shekelim 7:4) In addition, Migdal Eder is also mentioned by the Targums. Thus, Targum Yonatan, cited by Rabbi Munk, paraphrases Genesis 35:23 and Micah 4:8, "He spread his tent beyond Migdal Eder, the place where King Messiah will reveal Himself at the end of days." What are we to make of all of this information from the writings of the rabbis? First, we know that Migdal Eder was the watchtower that guarded the Temple flocks those who were being raised to serve as sacrificial animals in the Temple. These were not just any flock and herd. The shepherds who kept them were men who were specifically trained for this royal task. They were educated in what an animal that was to be sacrificed had to be and it was their job to make sure that none of the animals were hurt, damaged, or blemished."

Micah 4:8

8 And thou, O tower of the flock , the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

[Guest shiloh357]

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

(Mic 5:2)

It was misquoted by the priests in Mat. 2:6.

so, Matthew and Luke are wrong?

No, they are not wrong. The priests were taking their quotation from the targum which is ancient Jewish paraphrase on the Old Testament. The NT writers assume you know that. The NT does not stop and teach on Jewish cultural issues as much of that is assumed knowledge, which is why studying that culture is important.

I mean, it is real simple. Joseph was from the tribe of Judah and had to go to his hometown of Bethlehem to be counted in the census, which the NT also calls the city David. David was from Bethlehem, and from the tribe of Judah as well. So naturally, the Bethlehem being referenced is the one in Judah, SW of Jerusalem. The NT writers are giving you enough credit to figure that out.

[Blien]

This is also a good source for research....

Migdal Eder (the Tower of the flocks)

"According to Edersheim in The Life And Times Of Jesus The Messiah, in Book 2, Chapter 6, this Migdal Eder was not "the watchtower for the ordinary flocks that pastured on the barren sheep ground beyond Bethlehem, but it lay close to the town, on the road to Jerusalem." A passage from the Mishnah leads to the conclusion that 'the flocks, which pastured there were destined for Temple sacrifices..." (Shekelim 7:4) In addition, Migdal Eder is also mentioned by the Targums. Thus, Targum Yonatan, cited by Rabbi Munk, paraphrases Genesis 35:23 and Micah 4:8, "He spread his tent beyond Migdal Eder, the place where King Messiah will reveal Himself at the end of days." What are we to make of all of this information from the writings of the rabbis? First, we know that Migdal Eder was the watchtower that guarded the Temple flocks those who were being raised to serve as sacrificial animals in the Temple. These were not just any flock and herd. The shepherds who kept them were men who were specifically trained for this royal task. They were educated in what an animal that was to be sacrificed had to be and it was their job to make sure that none of the animals were hurt, damaged, or blemished."

Micah 4:8

8 And thou, O tower of the flock , the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

Hallelujah!! This was exactly what I was looking for!! Thanks so much!!