Levitical Shepherds, Old Towers and Swaddling Clothes

When we first meet Rachel in the Biblical narrative, she is approaching her future husband at a well in "the land of the people of the East." She waters her father's flocks because she is "a shepherdess." (Gen 29:9)

Years later, after migrating west with Jacob to the Land of Promise, Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin. Jacob (now Israel) buries her "on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)" before he "journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder." (Gen 35:19-21)

Eder (עדר) is Hebrew for flock, meaning that Israel fittingly (providentially?) buried his wife near the Migdal Eder (Tower of the Flock) near Bethlehem, on the road to Ephrath, where shepherds would watch over their flocks at pasture.

Almost 1,000 years later, the Lord would send Samuel to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, where the prophet met David and was commanded to "arise, anoint him" the coming king of Israel.

Fast-forward another three centuries, the line of David was failing. Through the voice of the prophet Micah, the Lord speaks to Israel about a Shepherd King:

"And you, O watchtower of the flock [Migdal Eder]
O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion...

"...the former dominion will be restored to you;
sovereignty will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come forth for Me
One to be ruler over Israel

He will stand and shepherd His flock..."

700 years later, a group of shepherds are watching their flocks near Bethlehem. These shepherds have a special task. The Jewish talmud speaks of the priestly herds "which are found from Jerusalem as far [south] as Migdal Eder...are burnt-offerings"

These shepherds watched over the flocks of temple sacrifice from the ground of Rachel's tomb, possibly atop the Migdal Eder itself. When a new lamb was born, the shepherds would wrap it in swaddling cloths to avoid injury before priestly inspection, keeping it "unblemished."

So when the angels appeared near the Migdal Eder, announcing the birth of the "Anointed One" in the town where his father David was anointed, the one who would "rule over my people Israel" and bring "sovereignty to the Daughter of Jerusalem," they gave the shepherds a sign.

"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

To these shepherds, the sign of the swaddling cloths was unmistakable.

The coming King of Israel would first be the sacrificial Lamb.