Reading today…. Rachel dies….buried on the road that they will take to captivity and then return many years in the future. Jer 31.15-17. Jacob travels 1 mile and stops at the tower of Edar. 

The Tower of Edar (also called Migdal Eder, meaning “Tower of the Flock”) is located very close to Bethlehem.

Distance

• Approximately 1 mile (1.5–2 km) from Bethlehem

• Roughly a 20–30 minute walk

• Just outside Bethlehem, traditionally toward the south or southeast, near the shepherds’ fields

Biblical Context

• Mentioned in Genesis 35:21 (KJV)

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

• Jewish tradition (notably Micah 4:8) associates Migdal Eder with Messianic expectation

• Many Christian scholars connect this area with the shepherds of Luke 2, making it significant in Nativity studies

Why this matters

Migdal Eder was understood as a watchtower used by shepherds—particularly those raising lambs for Temple sacrifice. Its close proximity to Bethlehem strengthens the theological symbolism of Christ’s birth near the place where sacrificial lambs were watched and protected.

I thought it was interesting that Jesus was born in the place where sacrificial lambs were raised for temple sacrifice. He was the lamb of God and he was born in the spot where they raised lambs for that purpose. (Note: the photo is an AI creation, not an actual photo).