CHAP. LI. Beth-lehem. (Book 51)
THE Jews are very silent of this City: nor do I remember that I have read any thing in them concerning it, besides those things, which are produced out of the Old Testament; this only excepted, that the a 1.1 Jerusalem Gemarists do confess, that the Messias was born there before their times.
b 1.2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ Bethlehem is a certain Town in the land of the Jews thirty five furlongs distant from Jeru∣salem: and that toward the South.
The Father of the Ecclesiastical Annals, citing these words of Eusebius, c 1.3 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. thus renders them in Latine, d 1.4 Jam vero, cum decimo octavo anno imperii Hadriani bellum, juxta urbem Beth-lehem nuncupatam (quae erat rerum omnium praesidiis munitissima, neque adeo longe a Civitate Hierosolymarum sita) vehementius accenderetur, &c. But now, when in the eigh∣teenth year of the Empire of Adrian the war was more vehemently kindled near the Town called Beth-lehem, (which was very well fortified with all manner of defence, nor was seated far from the City of Jerusalem,) &c.
The Interpreter of Eusebius renders 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Beth-thera: not illy, however it be not rendered according to the letter. Perhaps 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 crept into the word instead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by the carelesness of the Coppiers. But by what liberty the other should render it Beth-le∣hem, let himself see. Eusebius doth certainly treat of the City, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Betar, (it is vulgarly written Bitter) of the destruction of which the Jews relate very many things with lamentation: which certainly is scarcely to be reckoned the same with Beth∣lehem.
The same Father of the Annals adds, that Beth-lehem from the times of Adrian to the times of Constantine, was profaned by the Temple of Adonis: for the asserting of which he cites these words of Paulinus: Hadrianus, supposing that he should destroy the Christian Faith by offering injury to the place, in the place of the Passion dedicated the Image of Jupiter, and profaned Beth-lehem with the Temple of Adonis: As also like words of Hierome: yet he confesses the contrary seems to be in Origen against Celsus: and that more true. For Hadrian had no quarrel with the Christians, and Christianity, but with the Jews, that cursedly rebelled against him.