Tower of the
Flock
Sometimes folklore and traditions
take on a life of their own, and over
time we begin to think of them as factual. Such is the case of the
postcard setting of the manger scene. We tend to think that if
there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the inn, then they were
offered a backyard barn or cave in which to stay, as historians like to
believe.
One thing I have learned over the
years as I have grown in my Bible knowledge and understanding is that
there is significance and meaning behind everything. From
Genesis to Revelation, every word, phrase, prophecy, event and the
account of every biblical character is woven together to tell a greater
story. It’s like following a ribbon throughout the Bible,
starting from the beginning to the end. Each truth builds and
adds meaning. There are no random or meaningless words, events
or details.
Take for instance the word
“tower.” In the KJV, “tower” or “towers” is used a total of 65
times, and the majority of its uses refers to a tall structure
constructed for the purpose of armies or watchmen protecting their
cities and towns. Enemies could be seen approaching, and
sentries would have a fortified place in which to defend the
city. It represented a place of safety.
That’s probably why David chose that
term to refer to God as his high tower (2 Samuel 22:3, Psalm 18:2,
61:3, 144:2), his protector from his enemies. In David’s Song
of Deliverance recorded in 2 Samuel 22, David calls God the tower of
Salvation (vs. 51).
In Judges 9, Abimelech went up
against Thebez, and in verse 51 we read that all the residents of that
city fled into the tower for protection.
There are, of course, other uses of
the word “tower.” The most famous is the tower we know as the
Towel of Babel mentioned in Genesis 11:4. It was constructed
as a means for the citizens to reach heaven and make a name for
themselves.
Evidently, towers were significant
enough in statue and importance that they became a means of identifying
geographical locations. For instance, throughout the Old
Testament, we read references about numerous towers, such as the tower
of Shechem (Judges 9:49), the tower of Hammeah (Nehemiah 3:1), the
tower of Hananel (Nehemiah 12:39), etc. Obviously, by just
mentioning a tower by name, people would know its exact
location.
In 2 Chronicles 26:9-10, we’re told
that Uzziah built towers both for fortifying Jerusalem, as well as out
in the desert, along with wells, for the caring of cattle.
That introduces us to another type
of tower in the Old Testament, the tower of the flocks. While
it’s likely that over time abandoned guard towers could have become
flock towers, we know from the reference in 2 Chronicles that some
towers were constructed specifically for the purpose of overseeing
flocks.
We first read of the tower of Edar
in Genesis 35:20-21. Jacob, now known as Israel, had just
buried Rachel, “in the
way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem” (vs. 20). “Israel journeyed, and spread his
tent beyond the tower of Edar” (vs. 21). From those verses
we learn the location of this tower, which is near Bethlehem.
The tower of the flock is also
mentioned in Micah 4:8. A few verses later in Micah 5:2, reference is
made to Bethlehem Ephrathah, out of which the Messiah would
come. Understanding that the verses all go together in
context, it seems logical to assume that the tower of Edar referred to
in Genesis and located near Bethlehem is the same tower of the flock
referred to in Micah, and therefore, the prophetical location at which
Jesus would be born. In Hebrew, this tower’s name was Migdal
Edar.
According to custom, flock towers
had a lower and upper level. The upper level would allow
shepherds an aerial view for watching over the flocks, particularly
watching for thieves or preying animals.
Ewes about to give birth would be
bedded down in the lower, ground level of the tower and kept there
until the lambs were born. At the time of their
birth, lambs would be wrapped in swaddling cloth and kept there until
their legs became steady.
Since this tower of the flock,
Migdal Edar, was located near Bethlehem, it would be a strategic site
as the birthing place for the lambs that would ultimately become
sacrifices for the sins of the children of Israel. A special
group of (priestly) shepherds, who understood the laws and requirements
for animal sacrifice, would raise and protect the lambs for the sole
purpose of becoming temple sacrifices. As Jews traveled to
Jerusalem to offer up sin offerings or observe Passover, they could
easily acquire an acceptable sacrifice on their way.
With this understanding, it’s
logical that the manger of Migdal Edar would be the location at which
the perfect, Passover lamb would be born and take his first breath on
earth. Thus, this becomes another connecting “ribbon” of where
the Lamb of God “who would take away the sins of the world” (John 1:29)
would be born.
The idea of Jesus’ birth occurring
in a random, dirty barn or cave has no background or “ribbon”
connecting either of those locations to Scripture or
prophecy. But to be born in a “tower of the flock” fits in
with the traditions and practices of shepherds throughout the Old and
New Testament.
Consider this when you read of
Christ’s birth in Luke 2. It reads: “There were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” The
narrative goes on to say the angel informed the shepherds where they
would find the babe: In the City of David (which is Bethlehem), wrapped
in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
If the baby Jesus was in the manger
of the flock tower, and if these priestly shepherds were familiar with
the prophecies of Micah, it would make sense that the shepherds would
have known the exact location of the birth of this “Savior, who is Christ the Lord”
(Luke 2:11).
It wouldn’t have been in one of a
dozen possibilities of a random barn or cave to which they would have
had to hunt and search. Instead, Luke 2:16 says the shepherds “came with haste, and found Mary,
and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”
Most likely, that manger was located in Migdal Edar, the tower of the
flock.
Top
|