** Out of Bethlehem **

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for Me
One who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from old,
from ancient times.

He will stand and shepherd His flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
And the will live securely,
for then His greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
And He will be their peace.

(Micah 5:2, 4-5)

AC 2135 [4]

Thou Bethlehem, the land of Judah,
art in no wise least among the leaders of Judah;
for out of thee shall come forth a Leader,
who shall feed My people Israel.
(Matt. 2:6; compare Micah 5:2)

They who abide in the literal sense, as do the Jews,
know indeed from this passage
that the Lord should be born there;
but as they are expecting a leader and a king
who will bring them back into the land of Canaan,
they therefore explain the words found here
according to the letter;
that is, by the "land of Judah"
they understand the land of Canaan;
by "Israel" they understand Israel,
although they know not where Israel now is;
and by a "Leader" they still understand their Messiah;
when yet other things are meant
by "Judah" and "Israel;"
namely, by "Judah" those who are celestial,
by "Israel," those who are spiritual,
in heaven and on earth;
and by the "Leader" the Lord.