In light of everything we have said – Rachel’s tomb is not in Bet Lechem, but only nearby. So what is special about Bet Lechem itself? A new hypothesis: “Ephrath” is not a city, but a large area, and Jacob buried Rachel in that area, in a place that would later be called Bet Lechem, but at this stage does not exist at all. The place that does exist there is “Migdal Eder” which is later identified with Bet Lechem. A place that symbolizes simplicity and humility which, as we will see, are the central message of Bet Lechem.
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