Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Messiah born in Bethlehem

Targum Jonathan, Rashi, and Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer declare that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah, yet His origin is from eternity.

Micah 5:2 declares that the ruler of Israel would come forth from Bethlehem Ephrathah, though the town was little among the thousands of Judah. The verse further states that His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting—affirming both a birth in Bethlehem and an existence from eternity.

The Targum Jonathan renders the prophecy: “And You Bethlehem Ephrath, you who were too small to be numbered among the thousands of the house of Judah, From you shall come forth before Me, The Messiah, to exercise dominion over Israel, He whose name was mentioned from before, from the Days of Creation.” Rashi on Micah 5:1 identifies the One who emerges from Bethlehem as “the Messiah, son of David,” linking “his origin is from of old” to Psalm 72:17: “Before the sun his name is Yinnon.” Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 3:4 likewise cites Micah 5:2 and Psalm 72:17 to show that the name of the Messiah was premundane—“before the world had been created.” These ancient Jewish sources affirm both the Bethlehem origin and the ancient/eternal character of the Messiah.

Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephratha

Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

This verse declares that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem while also having been existing from eternity.

The Targum Jonathan:
And You Bethlehem Ephrath, you who were too small to be numbered among the thousands of the house of Judah, From you shall come forth before Me The Messiah, to exercise dominion over Israel, He whose name was mentioned from before, from the Days of Creation.

Rashi on Micah 5:1
And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah—whence David emanated, as it is stated (I Sam. 17:58): “The son of your bondsman, Jesse the Bethlehemite.” And Bethlehem is called Ephrath, as it is said (Gen. 48: 7): “On the road to Ephrath, that is Bethlehem.”

you should have been the lowest of the clans of Judah—You should have been the lowest of the clans of Judah because of the stigma of Ruth the Moabitess in you.

from you shall emerge for Me—the Messiah, son of David, and so Scripture says (Ps. 118:22): “The stone the builders had rejected became a cornerstone.”

and his origin is from of old—“Before the sun his name is Yinnon” (Ps. 72:17).

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 3:4
Whence we do know that the name of the Messiah (was premundane)? Because it is said, “His name shall endure for ever; before the sun Yinnôn was his name” (Ps. 72:17). “Yinnôn,” before the world had been created. Another verse says, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, which art to be least among the thousands of Judah, from thee shall he come forth unto me who is to be ruler over Israel; whose ancestry belongs to the past, even to the days of old” (Mic. 5:2). “The past,” whilst as yet the world had not been created.

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