Now the Scripture speaks, respecting the place of the Saviour’s
birth—that the Ruler was to come forth from Bethlehem—in the following
manner: “And thou Bethlehem, house of Ephrata, art not the least among
the thousands of Judah: for out of thee shall He come forth unto me who
is to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth have been of old, from
everlasting.”[1210] Now this prophecy could not suit any one of those
who, as Celsus’ Jew says, were fanatics and mob-leaders, and who gave
out that they had come from heaven, unless it were clearly shown that He
had been born in Bethlehem, or, as another might say, had come forth
from Bethlehem to be the leader of the people. With respect to the birth
of Jesus in Bethlehem, if any one desires, after the prophecy of Micah
and after the history recorded in the Gospels by the disciples of Jesus,
to have additional evidence from other sources, let him know that, in
conformity with the narrative in the Gospel regarding His birth, there
is shown at Bethlehem the cave where He was born, and the manger in the
cave where He was wrapped in swaddling-clothes. And this sight is
greatly talked of in surrounding places, even among the enemies of the
faith, it being said that in this cave was born that Jesus who is
worshipped and reverenced by the Christians. Moreover, I am of opinion
that, before the advent of Christ, the chief priests and scribes of the
people, on account of the distinctness and clearness of this prophecy,
taught that in Bethlehem the Christ was to be born. And this opinion had
prevailed also extensively among the Jews; for which reason it is
related that Herod, on inquiring at the chief priests and scribes of the
people, heard from them that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem of
Judea, “whence David was.” It is stated also in the Gospel according to
John, that the Jews declared that the Christ was to be born in
Bethlehem, “whence David was.”[1211] But after our Lord’s coming, those
who busied themselves with overthrowing the belief that the place of His
birth had been the subject of prophecy from the beginning, withheld such
teaching from the people; acting in a similar manner to those
individuals who won over those soldiers of the guard stationed around
the tomb who had seen Him arise from the dead, and who instructed these
eye-witnesses to report as follows: “Say that his disciples, while we
slept, came and stole him away. And if this come to the governor’s ears,
we shall persuade him, and secure you.”[1212]
Footnote 1210:
Cf. Mic. v. 2 and Matt. ii. 6.
Footnote 1211:
Cf. John vii. 42.
Footnote 1212:
Cf. Matt. xxviii. 13, 14.