THE TOWER OF EDAR

      According to the second chapter of the Gospel according to Luke, Christ was born in Bethlehem.  On the outskirts of the city was the tower of Edar.  It was at this location where sheep were kept and protected by shepherds until they were sacrificed in the temple.  Under the tower was a cave-like portion where ewes were taken when it was time to birth baby lambs.
     Joseph and Mary had gone to Bethlehem to pay taxes, and, while they were there, the time came for Mary to be delivered.
    "And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7).
    Meanwhile, the shepherds were "abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."
    The angel of the Lord appeared to them and said:
      "You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
     When the shepherds heard "swaddling clothes" and "manger", they knew exactly where to go:  not to Bethlehem, but to the tower!  And there they found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
     In the tower of Edar, new-born lambs were wrapped in swaddling by the shepherds, which helped to keep the sheep from hurting themselves, or from getting bruised.  The manger was hewn limestone, which was used to lay the new baby lambs.
     The tower of Edar was thus the perfect birthplace for the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed for the sin of the world.