The Tower of the Flock - The Birthplace of Christ

This post was unplanned. Until last week, I did not know what I am planning to share in this post. 

On the morning of Tuesday, December 24th, I discovered something completely new to me.

This was way too special for me not to share! I only wish I could’ve published this post that day. 

To give a little more context to what I plan to share in this post, I’ll back up just a little bit. 

I follow a weekly Bible reading plan. That is, I do a lot of Bible reading on the weekend. During the week, I do lighter Bible reading. I read many chapters on the weekend. I absolutely love this! This works so well for me. 

On the weekend of December 14th, I read several chapters from the book of Genesis. Those chapters contained a lot in them, including the death of Rachel, Jacob’s wife, mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. 

The story of Rachel really grips me and even makes me get a little emotional. Rachel was Joseph’s mother.

Two years ago I wrote a post about Rachel in connection with the birth of Christ. Rachel was buried near Bethlehem. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. 

When I am finished with my Bible reading on the weekend, I enjoy going for a walk in our neighborhood to think about the chapters I read. 

Rachel’s death. Christ’s birth. Bethlehem. Those things were all on my mind that day. They are all kind of connected. 

Later that evening, I came across something that someone else had shared on social media. The article they shared mentioned verses I had just read that day about Rachel’s death. The article also talked about the birth of Christ and how both those events happened in Bethlehem. 

My interest was peaked. The article mentioned something about the “Tower of the Flock”. 

In Hebrew, the Tower of the Flock is called “Migdal Edar” - migdal meaning tower and edar meaning flock. 

The “Tower of the Flock” is mentioned in the Bible, but I never gave it much thought. I kept it in the back of my mind, wanting to know more. 

What was this tower? And what was it used for? 

Apparently, back when the Bible was written, there was a tower in the fields just outside of Bethlehem. This tower was, technically, in Bethlehem. 

To my knowledge, the first time this tower is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis 35:21. A couple verses before that mention Rachel’s death. 

“And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. 

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.”

Genesis 35:19-21 

The tower of edar, that is, the tower of the flock. 

Rachel died close to this tower, and her husband, Israel, set up his tent near this tower. 

 

But what was this tower? What was it used for? 

The tower of the flock was an actual tower built from stone. This tower was used by shepherds in Bethlehem. They used it to help keep watch over their flocks of sheep, especially if one began to wander away or if one was ready to give birth. 

Apparently, there was an upper level where the shepherds could look out over their flocks. And there was a main level, the lower level, where shepherds would bring sheep inside when they were ready to give birth to a lamb. 

I never knew any of this. It is very easy to see how this tower got its name - the tower of the flock. 

This tower could also be used for military purposes as it would give a good view of anything that was coming. But, its primary use was for shepherds and for sheep. 

When the Temple was in Jerusalem, there were many lambs that were sacrificed each year on Passover. According to God’s Word, those Passover lambs had to be perfect, spotless, and without blemish. 

During the time of Christ, the town of Bethlehem was where those Passover lambs were born. The fields just outside of Bethlehem, near this tower of the flock, is where Levitical shepherds raised these sheep. Those Levitical shepherds used the main level of this tower to bring those sheep in when they gave birth to lambs intended to be sacrificed for Passover. 

After a lamb was born, those Levitical shepherds would take that lamb, wrap it in swaddling clothes (strips of linen from worn priestly garments) and lay that lamb in a stone manger inside this tower. Are you beginning to see the connection? 

It was to those Levitical shepherds that the angels of heaven appeared and announced the birth of Christ! 

The Gospel of Luke says it this way: 

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:8-12 

Swaddling clothes and a manger? 

Those Levitical shepherds knew exactly what those were and where to find them! 

As a girl, I used to wonder how those shepherds knew where to find Jesus the night he was born.

Did they check every stable (or perhaps a cave) in Bethlehem until they found a baby all wrapped up and laying in a manger?

Granted, Bethlehem was a small town. But still. Let’s suppose there were only 40 - 50 families living in Bethlehem then. Did they check every stable in Bethlehem until they found him? 

Most homes in the USA have a garage for vehicles. Not every home in the United States has a garage, but most do. Back then, homes didn’t have a garage since vehicles didn’t exist. Instead, they had a stable for their animals. 

How did those shepherds know where to find baby Jesus? I used to wonder. 

The sign that the angel gave them was enough for them - swaddling clothes and a manger. 

Those shepherds knew exactly where to go. 

The tower of the flock. 

When I discovered this a week ago today, I had tears streaming down my face with arms and hands lifted up to God in complete and total awe! I am an emotional female, and when something touches me deeply inside, I sometimes cry. 

Jesus, our Passover Lamb, was born inside the tower of the flock, where baby lambs sacrificed for Passover were born. 

I watched this video that morning with tears in my eyes. This brief video shares it so well. 

I shared this with some family members that morning during breakfast. I was so overjoyed to share this with them! I also discovered that the excited 5 year old inside me is still very much alive and well. 

For many years, I have wanted to know where Christ was born. Yes, I knew Christ was born in Bethlehem. I have known that since I was probably 3 years old. 

But where in Bethlehem was Christ born?

I have wanted to know that for many years. I thought I might never know, and that was okay. I didn’t need to know. But I thought it would be so special if someone knew exactly where. 

Now, I know. There is no doubt in my mind at all. Christ was born inside the tower of the flock in Bethlehem. 

The prophet Micah talks about the birth of Messiah in Bethlehem in these well known verses: 

“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.” 

Micah 5:2 

What I didn’t know was that Micah also tells us where in Bethlehem Messiah was to be born! 

Can you guess where? 

The tower of the flock! 

In the previous chapter, Micah says: 

“And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.”

Micah 4:8 

Micah spoke about a future restoration to God’s people, Israel, which the Messiah would bring. 

To where would He come?

The tower of the flock. 

To get a better understanding of these verses, I continued reading for some context, and I could hardly believe it when the next few verses talked about a woman in travail and in labor! 

Prophetically, these verses could have more than one meaning, but there is no doubt in my mind that the tower of the flock in Bethlehem is exactly where Christ was born. 

Many nativity scenes today depict baby Jesus born in a dirty barn or stable with different animals around Him. That is only partially correct. 

The inside of that tower was surely not fancy. It was probably quite simple, but it would not have been dirty. It would have been ceremonially clean for those sheep to give birth to Passover lambs. 

Yes, there would have likely been animals nearby, but primarily, just sheep and baby lambs! And if Joseph and Mary had a donkey, which they likely did, their donkey would have also been nearby. 

How incredibly perfect to have baby Passover lambs around the birth of the Lamb of God! God does everything with tremendous significance, meaning, and purpose. The birth of His Son was no different. 

To know exactly where the birth of God’s Son took place was God’s special gift to me this season. 

An artist’s depiction of the “Tower of the Flock” in Bethlehem, Israel.