The following article is part of the "Biblical Obscurities" blog series by Mike Velthouse, author of Journey Through the Psalms. For years, Mike has been writing articles for his church's monthly newsletter on a number of "obscurities" within the Bible. For the last few months, we have reprinted many of those articles here on the RFPA blog. "Tower of the Flock" is the final addition to this blog series for now, but make sure to join our email list here to receive a notification in your inbox for new blog posts and updates!

“And thou, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come…the king shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:8)

Every village has a story: even an insignificant spot like Bethlehem, called "little among the thousands of Judah" in Micah 5:2.

Oh, this town certainly had its moments in Jewish history. Jacob buried his beloved Rachel here (Genesis 35). Boaz and Ruth married and lived in this area (Ruth 4). David's hometown and the place of his anointing are right here (1 Samuel 16). And even after speaking of Bethlehem's lowliness, Micah prophesies that a ruler in Israel will come out of it.

But to learn the story of Bethlehem’s most significant moment in redemptive history, we are taken away from the village, to the lush green hills and fields outside of town. Let's examine this story through the lens of Luke 2.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field…”

Many villages had flocks and shepherds, but only the flocks and shepherds in Bethlehem were set apart for service in Jerusalem. As such, these weren’t just ordinary shepherds. They were "Rabbinical" shepherds employed by the temple priests, educated in Old Testament writings and the Mosaic law. These shepherds were trained to keep the lambs healthy, unblemished, and spotless in every way.

“…keeping watch over their flock by night.”

According to the Talmud, the Jewish source for laws and theology, only Bethlehem produced lambs pure enough to be sacrificed to God in the temple. These lambs were born and raised in a site just outside of town called Migdal Eder, which is Hebrew for “The Tower of the Flock.” This site served as both a watch tower and a stall. From the top of the tower, the shepherds could stand guard. Meanwhile, on the ground floor, other priestly shepherds could inspect each newborn lamb for any defect: scrapes, scratches, scars, bruises, and blemishes.

“And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger.”

The newborn lambs of Bethlehem were swaddled in special temple cloths to certify their holy birth. Inside the Tower, the shepherds laid the lambs in mangers, feeding troughs made of stone, for rest and protection. Those lambs deemed worthy ("without spot or wrinkle") were then set aside for a life of safety and growth in and around this Tower until the time came for them to go to Jerusalem, where God's people could purchase the animals to present a sacrifice at the temple to atone for their sins.

“And this shall be a sign unto you…”

Notice that when the angels appeared to these shepherds, they didn’t just state the fact that a Savior had been born. They presented the shepherds with a sign: "Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (v. 12). The shepherds noticed the significance. They knew exactly what the sign meant! Because of their education in Old Testament prophecies, they knew that in the angels' words was an announcement of salvation. Their Savior, a newborn human infant, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger—just like their own little lambs, set aside for sacrifices of atonement.

“Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass…”

Having left the grazing field, the shepherds knew right where to look for this child. They returned to their flocks and hometown, glorifying and praising God. Although we have no proof of Jesus’ exact birth location, when considered in the light of Micah 4:8, this very Tower of the Flock may be the place. How astounding to envision that the shepherds raising next year's Passover lambs were the first people to see the child Jesus, the Lamb soon to be sacrificed for their sins. No wonder they "made known abroad" the saying of the angels (v. 17)!

Think on Bethlehem's special place in history as you read the Christmas story this year and sing biblical carols with your friends and family. And, when you consider Bethlehem's story, see Christ in its three elements: a tower, the shepherds, and their lambs. Finally, remember the Tower of the Flock, a prophesy fulfilled of a king to come.

Jesus: the Tower of his flock, the Shepherd of their souls (1 Peter 2:25), and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

As we close this Biblical Obscurities series (for now!), we want to send a huge THANK YOU to you, blog readers. Whether you've read one Obscurity article or a dozen, we hope you've enjoyed deep-diving into biblical history with us over the last few months of the RFPA blog. If you're not already subscribed, join our email list here to be notified of new additions and blog series. Keep an eye out for more books from author Mike Velthouse, including an upcoming devotional on the miracles of Jesus (publication date TBD). and learn more about what Mike's been up to lately by following his Facebook here. Finally, click the image below to read more from Mike in the thirty-day devotional Journey Through the Psalms, available on rfpa.org and in Christian bookstores near you!