(Hebrew: house of bread)
(1) Bethlehem of Zebulon (Josiah 19), a small town 7 miles northwest of Nazareth.
(2) Bethlehem of Judea, less correctly known as Bethlehem of Juda (Judges 17; 19; 1 Kings 17), originally known as Ephrata (Michah 5), city, Palestine, 5 miles south of Jerusalem, closely connected with patriarchal history as the place of death of Rachel, Jacob's wife (Genesis 35), the site of the romance of Ruth and Booz, and the birthplace of David. It became sacred to Christians as the birthplace of Our Lord, and the church of the Nativity now occupies the traditional site.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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