Original Word: מִגְדַּל־עֵדֶר
Part of Speech: Noun
Transliteration: Migdal-`Eder
Pronunciation: mig-dal-ay'-der
Phonetic Spelling: (mig-dal'-ay'-der)
KJV: Migdal-eder, tower of the flock
NASB: tower of Eder
Word Origin: [from H4026 (מִגדָּל מִגדָּלָה - tower) and H5739 (עֵדֶר - flock)]

1. tower of a flock
2. Migdal-Eder, a place in Israel

Migdal-eder, tower of the flock

From migdal and eder; tower of a flock; Migdal-Eder, a place in Palestine -- Migdal-eder, tower of the flock.

see HEBREW migdal

see HEBREW eder

Word Origin
from migdal and eder
Definition
"flock tower," a tower near Bethlehem
NASB Translation
tower of Eder (1).

מִגְדַּלעֵֿ֫דֶר proper name (flock-tower) shepherd's watch-tower near Bethlehem Genesis 35:21; Micah 4:8.

Name and Meaning

Migdal-Eder translates as “Tower of the Flock,” a pastoral landmark south of Bethlehem on the road to Hebron. The title evokes both security and watchfulness, images natural to a stone tower from which shepherds could guard their sheep.

Biblical Setting

Genesis 35:21: “Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder.” The verse situates the site in the hill country of Judah during Jacob’s return from Paddan-aram. Coming immediately after the death of Rachel and the desecration of Jacob’s household by Reuben (Genesis 35:16-20; 35:22), the notice marks a transition from sorrow to stability as the patriarch resumes his pilgrimage.

Historical Significance

1. Patriarchal Geography: Migdal-Eder lay close to Bethlehem, later David’s hometown (1 Samuel 17:12) and the prophesied birthplace of Messiah (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:5-6). Its early mention anchors the site in salvation history long before either Davidic or Messianic expectations were articulated.
2. Shepherd Culture: Towers were common defensive structures in open pastureland (2 Chronicles 26:10; Isaiah 5:2). Their presence indicates organized husbandry and hints at wealth; Jacob’s flocks numbered in the hundreds (Genesis 32:13-15).
3. Tribal Boundaries: By Joshua’s era the region fell within Judah, then ultimately Benjamin when Bethlehem became a border town (Joshua 15:1, 5-6; 18:13-14). The tower therefore linked the destinies of both tribes that would produce Israel’s first two kings—Saul of Benjamin and David of Judah.

Theological Themes

• God’s Faithfulness amid Family Crisis: Migdal-Eder stands between Rachel’s tomb and Isaac’s tent at Hebron (Genesis 35:27), portraying God’s unwavering covenant path even when human sin interrupts the narrative.
• Watchfulness and Hope: A shepherd-tower symbolizes vigilant care. For Jacob, freshly chastened by domestic turmoil, the tower underscored the Lord’s protective oversight of the covenant flock (Psalm 23:1; John 10:11).

Relation to Messianic Expectation

Micah 4:8 employs the same phrase (“tower of the flock”) in a prophetic context set in Jerusalem: “And you, O tower of the flock, Ophel of the daughter of Zion, to you it will come—the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.” Although the Micah reference uses a different Strong’s number, the shared wording invites readers to trace a line from Jacob’s humble encampment to the royal and ultimately Messianic kingdom. Early Jewish tradition located Migdal-Eder near Bethlehem; some rabbinic sources anticipated that Messiah would be revealed there. Luke 2:8-12 records shepherds “keeping watch over their flocks at night” near Bethlehem when the angel announced Christ’s birth—an echo that many commentators link to the pastoral heritage of Migdal-Eder.

Lessons for Ministry Today

1. Transitional Moments Matter: Jacob camped only briefly at Migdal-Eder, yet Scripture records it. Temporary settings can become transformative when God is acknowledged.
2. Vigilance in Leadership: Like a shepherd’s tower, spiritual leaders are called to oversee and guard the flock (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2-4).
3. Hope Anchored in Place: Physical locations tied to God’s acts in history strengthen faith. Remembering them fosters gratitude and expectation for future fulfillment.

Intertextual Echoes and Later Tradition

• Dead Sea Scrolls (4QMic) preserve Micah’s “tower of the flock” wording, confirming its antiquity.
• Jerome (Commentary on Micah) identified the tower near Bethlehem, while Eusebius’s Onomasticon speaks of a twelve-stone tower marking Jacob’s campsite.
• Medieval pilgrims recorded ruins southeast of modern Bethlehem called “Dir ed-Dher,” possibly preserving the name.

Summary

Migdal-Eder, though mentioned only once under Strong’s 4029, threads together themes of shepherding, covenant continuity, and Messianic hope. From Jacob’s tent to the manger in Bethlehem, the “Tower of the Flock” stands as a silent witness to God’s vigilant care over His people and His unfolding redemptive plan.

עֵֽדֶר׃ עדר׃ ‘ê·ḏer ‘êḏer EderInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts