Place Old Testament
Tower of Eder
Also known as tower of Eder =ESV; Migdal Eder =NIV; tower of Edar =KJV; tower of the flock =ESV, NIV, KJV
The Tower of Eder, a watchtower near Bethlehem, where Jacob pitched his tent and later associated with the coming of the Messiah (Gen. 35:21; Mic. 4:8). Mentioned in 2 verses across 2 books, first at Genesis 35:21.
Why it matters. A tower near Bethlehem, associated with the Messiah
- Primary passages
- Location
- 31.705, 35.210 (approximate, within about 2 km)
Coordinates from STEPBible TIPNR (palopenmaps.org link). Approximate; not independently verified.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Tower of Eder
The Tower of Eder, also known as the Tower of the Flock, is mentioned twice in the Bible. In Genesis 35:21, it is recorded that Israel (or 'Jacob') pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder after the death of his wife, Rachel. The tower was likely a watchtower used by shepherds to guard their flocks near Bethlehem. In Micah 4:8, the prophet addresses the Tower of the Flock, associating it with the coming of the Messiah and the restoration of the kingdom to Jerusalem. This passage has led some interpreters to view the Tower of Eder as a prophetic symbol of the birthplace of the Messiah, linking it to the fields near Bethlehem where the shepherds received the announcement of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:8-20). However, the exact location of the tower and its significance in Messianic prophecy remain a matter of interpretation.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
No reviewed connections yet.
Appears in Scripture
Named in 2 verses across 2 books. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.