Map Bethlehem to Jerusalem

Israel’s new ruler is coming.

He’ll come from Judah’s smallest clan.

And from Bethlehem, called Ephrathah.

His story started long ago,

In very ancient times. Micah 5:2

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the province of Judea, when Herod the Great was king of the Jews. Later, a group of wise men known as magi showed up in Jerusalem. They came from a distant land somewhere in the east. 2They started asking around, “Where’s the boy who’s going to become king of the Jews?” We saw the sign of his birth: a rising star. We came to honor him.”

When Herod heard about this, he was not a happy king. The people of Jerusalem got upset too. Herod called a meeting of all the top priests and Jewish religion scholars known as scribes. He asked them where the Messiah was going to be born. They said, “One of the prophets predicted he would be born in Bethlehem, in Judea. Here’s what the prophets wrote:

‘Bethlehem of Judea, you’re no smalltime prince of a town. You’re going to produce a king who will lead my people of Israel like a shepherd.’” Matthew 2:1-6