Question: Did Matthew alter the wording of Micah 5:2 to make it look like the Messiah was to be born in the town of Bethlehem in Judah? Afterall, Micah never said "Judah," he said "Bethlehem Ephratah." And, wasn't that the name of a family clan, not a town? The son of Caleb's second wife was Ephratah, see 1 Chron.2:18,50-52 & 1 Chron.4:4. Isn't that why you see the name Ephratah after the word Bethlehem in Micah 5:2? In Matt.2:6, notice that he leaves out the word Ephratah and substitutes the word Juda to make it appear it is about the town of Bethlehem and not about the clan of Bethlehem Ephratah.
Response: There are two questions here. The first is whether Matthew altered the wording of Micah 5:2 and the other is whether Micah 5:2 refers to a clan or to a town. The answer to the first question is no and the answer to the second question is that Micah 5:2 does refer to a town - the town of Bethlehem in Judah.
As for the first question, Matthew did not alter the wording of Micah 5:2. Instead, he is quoting what other people were saying about Micah 5:2. Take a look at the related verses from the book of Matthew:
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,
6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a governor who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’” (Matthew 2:1-6, WEB)
As you can see from Matthew 2:1-6, Matthew is quoting the chief priests and scribes, also known as 'teachers of the law.' It is the chief priests and scribes who are equating the reference to "Bethlehem Ephrathah" in Micah 5:2 with the town of Bethlehem in Judah. And, they are correct.
Bethlehem and Ephrathah are indeed the names of people in the Bible who lived long before the time of Jesus. But these also are the names for the town of Bethlehem in Judah, with Ephrathah being the more ancient name for the town and Bethlehem being the newer name for the town.
By referring to the town as "Bethlehem Ephrathah" in Micah 5:2, the prophet Micah is distinguishing the town of Bethlehem in Judah from another town named Bethlehem that was north of the region of Judah.
More information about Micah 5:2 can be found here:
• The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem
• Bethlehem - Messiah's birthplace: A detailed look at Micah 5:2 and the objections that skeptics have
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