Bible Encyclopedias
Eder (1)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ē´dẽr ( עדר , ‛ēdher , "flock"):

(1) One of the "uttermost cities" of Judah in the Negeb ("South") near the border of Edom (Joshua 15:21 ), possibly Kḣ el ‛Adar , 5 miles South of Gaza, but probably this is too far west. (2) Eder (the King James Version Edar ) or better Migdal Eder, מגדּל־עדר , mighdal ‛ēdher , "the tower of the flock"; Γάδερ , Gáder ̌ . After Rachel died and was buried "in the way to Ephrath (the same is Bethlehem) ... Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder" (Genesis 35:19 , Genesis 35:21 ). In Genesis 35:27 he is described as proceeding to Hebron. This "tower of the flock," which may have been only a tower and no town, must therefore be looked for between Bethlehem and Hebron. Jerome says that it was one Roman mile from Bethlehem. In the Septuagint, however, Genesis 35:16 and Genesis 35:21 are transposed, which suggests that there may have been a tradition that Migdal Eder was between Bethel and Bethlehem. There must have been many such towers for guarding flocks against robbers. Compare "tower of the watchman" ( 2 Kings 18:8 , etc.). The phrase "Migdal Eder" occurs in Micah 4:8 where Jerusalem is compared to such a tower.