2 KINGDOMS
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” – Micah 5:2.
The Biblical account of the birth of Jesus also gives us a picture of the current war in Israel. Here’s how:
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem fulfilling Micah’s prophesy, angels announced Jesus’ birth to shepherds nearby and they came and worshipped (Luke 2). Some time later wise men from the east came and worshipped the newborn king (Matthew 2). Those facts you already know. But this is the rest of the story:
King Herod the Great was the king of the Jews at the time of Jesus’ birth. But Herod wasn’t Jewish. He was an Edomite, a descendant of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob.
Before Esau and Jacob were born, God told their mother, Rebecca, that He chose Jacob to receive His blessing instead of Esau who was born first. And God said that the older would serve the younger. This blessing, passed down from Abraham to Isaac, included the lineage of the Messiah.
When those boys were older, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. (Genesis 25:29–34)
Hebrews 12:16-17 (NLT) says, 16“Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.
The descendants of Jacob became the nation of Israel. The descendants of Esau became known as the Edomites and King Herod who was an Edomite was ruling as king over Israel because he was appointed by Caesar.
After Jesus was born, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem looking for the baby. When they told Herod that the King of the Jews had been born because they saw His star in the sky, Matthew 2:3 says, “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
Why was everyone in the city “troubled?” Because when Herod was upset, he killed people.
To protect his throne from the true King of the Jews, Herod sent soldiers to Bethlehem to kill all of the male children 2 years old and under. (Matthew 2:16-17) This massacre fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy in Jeremiah 31:15
This is what the Lord says:
“A cry is heard in Ramah—
deep anguish and bitter weeping.
Rachel weeps for her children,
refusing to be comforted—
for her children are gone.”