WhatвЂ™s more, Josephus does record the office of a вЂњvillage clerkвЂќ (Greek, kЕЌmogrammateus, a word also extant in over two hundred papyri). LukeвЂ™s opening statement ( Luke 2:1) accurately characterizes this situation. Judea was a client kingdom of Rome, which means Herod was responsible for collecting his own taxes and paying tribute to Rome.

In addition, we know that Caesar AugustusвЂ™ rule was marked by a significant increase in census activity. Josephus provides most of the extant information, but he was quite selective in what he recorded and wrote almost a century after the events. Our record of Palestinian history during the time of Herod is far from exhaustive. However, this is an argument from silence. Scholars such as Emil SchГјrer argue that there is no historical evidence from Josephus or Tacitus of a Roman census in Palestine during the reign of Herod the Great and even if there were, Joseph and Mary could have been counted in Nazareth, as there was no requirement to return to Bethlehem. Critics claim that LukeвЂ™s reference to this census represents a historical error. At the same time, LukeвЂ™s reference to this census has become the single most-discussed historical issue in LukeвЂ™s entire Gospel. The census is a crucial element in LukeвЂ™s narrative as it explains how Joseph and Mary ended up in Bethlehem for JesusвЂ™s birth. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Joseph and Mary journeyed to Bethlehem-JosephвЂ™s ancestral home-to register for a census decreed by Caesar Augustus in 6 or 5 BC ( Luke 2:1-5). Joseph and Mary journeyed to Bethlehem to be counted in a Roman census. By doing so, he sets Jesus over Herod as the true king of the Jews. In the last phrase of verse 6 (вЂњwho will shepherd my people IsraelвЂќ), Matthew alludes to 2 Samuel 5:2, which describes DavidвЂ™s rightful kingship over the fateful reign of Saul. ItвЂ™s against this backdrop that Matthew quotes Micah 5:2, вЂњFor from shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people IsraelвЂќ ( 2:6). Hearing news of the MessiahвЂ™s birth, Herod conspired to squelch any such threat to his rule ( Matt 2:1-4). By New Testament times, messianic expectations were rising during the reign of King Herod over Judea (37вЂ“4 BC), who was appointed king of the Jews under the auspices of Rome. As previously mentioned, Bethlehem was known as the вЂњcity of David.вЂќ And so this prophecy further connected the coming Messiah with the house and line of David. In the Old Testament, the prophet Micah prophesied that from Bethlehem shall come forth вЂњone who is to be ruler in IsraelвЂќ ( Mic 5:2). Bethlehem was prophesied to be the birthplace of the Messiah. Hence, Bethlehem became known as the вЂњcity of DavidвЂќ ( Luke 2:4,11).Дў. In 1 Samuel 17:12, David is identified as вЂњthe son of an Ephraphite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse.вЂќ And itвЂ™s in Bethlehem that David was anointed king over Israel by the prophet Samuel ( 1 Sam 16:1-13) and tended his fatherвЂ™s sheep ( 17:15). 1 Most significantly, the book of Ruth concludes by tracing the family line of Perez through Boaz to Jesse the father of David ( 4:18вЂ“22). Upon their marriage, Ruth was blessed with the words, вЂњMay you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in BethlehemвЂќ ( Ruth 4:11). It was also famously home to Ruth and her husband Boaz. In the Old Testament, Bethlehem was first called Ephrath (вЂњfruitful) and was the burial place of Rachel ( Gen 35:16, 19 48:7). Bethlehem was known as the city of David.Д«ethlehem means вЂњthe house of breadвЂќ and is located six miles south of Jerusalem in the hill country of Judea. Here are 5 things to know about Bethlehem in the Bible: 1. Even if someone only goes to church once a year, there's a good chance they may hear something about Jesus being born in Bethlehem. It's a fact that most Christians and many non-Christians know, due to its inclusion in several popular Christmas carols and hymns. The Bible tells us that Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem, which is just south of Jerusalem. 'Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem' ~ Matthew 2:1

Where was jesus born