It is first noticed in Scripture as the place where Jacob’s wife, Rachel, died and was buried “along the way,” directly to the north of the city (, ).Bethlehem appears in as the home of the Levite who became priest to Micah.The valley to the east was the scene of the story of Ruth (, , ; ; ).Bethlehem was the birthplace of David and where he was anointed as king by Samuel (); and it was from the well of Bethlehem that three of David’s heroes brought water for him at the risk of their lives when he was in the cave of Adullam ().But it was distinguished above every other city as the birthplace of the God promised Messiah (; compare this to ).