Bethlehem
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13: Place Names and Religious Pilgrimage: Mapping Sacred Journeys in Israel
1. Introduction Place names in Israel are deeply entwined with religious pilgrimage traditions across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This article explores how the naming of pilgrimage sites shapes spiritual journeys, reinforces religious identities, and sustains cultural heritage. 2. Pilgrimage in Judaism Jewish pilgrimage traditionally centred on Jerusalem and its Temple…
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Bethlehem in Biblical Context
1. Introduction Bethlehem, though geographically small, plays an outsized role in the biblical narrative. Known as the “City of David” and the birthplace of Jesus Christ, Bethlehem is rich with theological symbolism and messianic significance. From its appearance in the ancestral story of David to the nativity accounts of the…