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Dec 15th, 2008 by John

stone manger

Photo credit: www.padfield.com

Like most of us I grew up seeing Christmas cards of Jesus “asleep on the hay” in a wooden manger. Wooden legs in the shape of a large X with the bed a wooded-sided V. Is it possible Jesus’ manger was wooden? I think so. Is it likely? I think not.

Wood as a commodity for things like mangers, tables, etc. was rare in Galilee. The word teknon used for Joseph’s and Jesus’ occupation in Matthew 13:35 and Mark 6:3 is a matter of debate. (We get our word “technical” from this term.) Were these men “carpenters” or “stone masons”? Because the greater Nazareth area is not a forested area, but has many stone quarries, it is most likely Joseph and Jesus worked with stone, not with wood.

Stone mangers, troughs to feed animals, were common in Israel in the 1st century. When Mary wrapped her newborn son in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, he was in a solid, secure structure. What animals had eaten from it? Sheep? Donkeys? Camels?

When I was growing up on my grandparents’ farm in Tennessee, we had corn cribs used for feed. One of the first things we need for a new baby is a crib. Our church has a “crib” ministry. Manger, crib, baby bed. Did the birth of Jesus and his rest in a manger make a lasting influence on our language?

A manger: a thing from which living things eat. Jesus was laid in a manger. As a young adult Jesus would say, “I am the bread of life come down from heaven.”

Food for thought.

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Posted in Culture, Jesus, Theology

18 Responses to “Mangerology: Jesus’ First Bed”

on 15 Dec 2008 at 2:05 pm1Sam Fountain

What a trivial essay. As I pointed out in my book. JESUS, A MAN FOR ALL TIME (www.eloquentbooks.com/JesusAManForAllTime.html), Luke and the manager scene stress the humble and lowly birth of Jesus in contrast to Matthew stressing the nobility of the birth of Jesus that stirred the jealousy of Herod. To talk about a wood manger v. a stone manger and, then, to parallel it with John’s “I am the bread of life” makes a wrong impression and detracts from the the power of the dual birth scenes.
on 15 Dec 2008 at 2:37 pm2John

Sam,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
on 15 Dec 2008 at 4:56 pm3Michael A

Sam,

While I’m sure your book, JESUS, A MAN FOR ALL TIME (www.eloquentbooks.com/JesusAManForAllTime.html), is the ultimate statement about Jesus and your book, JESUS, A MAN FOR ALL TIME (www.eloquentbooks.com/JesusAManForAllTime.html), represents the height of Drew University. Might it be that constantly advertising your book, JESUS, A MAN FOR ALL TIME (www.eloquentbooks.com/JesusAManForAllTime.html), in blog comments all over the internet might reduce the perceived credibility of your book, JESUS, A MAN FOR ALL TIME (www.eloquentbooks.com/JesusAManForAllTime.html). While I’m sure your book, JESUS, A MAN FOR ALL TIME (www.eloquentbooks.com/JesusAManForAllTime.html), definitively exegetes the gospel message…might I suggest that there are other, even if inferior, ways to analyse and apply scripture than those found in your book, JESUS, A MAN FOR ALL TIME (www.eloquentbooks.com/JesusAManForAllTime.html)?
on 15 Dec 2008 at 5:01 pm4John

Michael A,
I appreciate your informative response to Sam. It was enlightening to me about Sam and his book JESUS, A MAN FOR ALL TIME (www.eloquentbooks.com/JesusAManForAllTime.html).
Peace.
John
on 15 Dec 2008 at 5:11 pm5After the Blackbird Sings

That looks very uncomfortable. Not as uncomfortable as a cross, but…
on 15 Dec 2008 at 5:32 pm6John

Post Blackbird Song,
Can you imagine little Jesus wiggling his arms and hands and hitting the side of a stone manger? Ouch. The cross…yes, worse.
on 15 Dec 2008 at 7:01 pm7Sue

Nice, John. I think too that the capstone for the world should be laid in a stone manger, for sure

LOL at these comments
on 15 Dec 2008 at 7:30 pm8John Frye

Sue,
Good thought…I’m glad you enjoyed the banter.
on 17 Dec 2008 at 12:53 pm9Nora

John,
I am disturbed by the implication of your opinion that Jesus was “most likely” a stone mason. What will happen to all of the “My boss is a Jewish carpenter” bumper stickers?
on 17 Dec 2008 at 12:56 pm10John Frye

Nora,
Egads! I did not think of that. It’s like the silver-smiths in Ephesus thinking that Paul was wrecking their “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” business. Oh, what shall I do??

How ’bout a new bumper sticker: JESUS ROCKS!
on 17 Dec 2008 at 1:06 pm11Nora

I’m no prophet, but I foresee a new denomination arising out of your theological breakthrough: “First Church of the Stonemason”
on 17 Dec 2008 at 2:46 pm12John

Nora,
Can’t happen…too much baggage around the whole masonic movement. But how ’bout Stonecutters Community Chapel? :#
on 19 Dec 2008 at 4:17 am13Mark R

Bethlehem – In Hebrew, it means ‘House of bread’.
on 19 Dec 2008 at 10:18 am14John Frye

Mark R,
Rock on, Man! You got it–”House of Bread” and “Bread of Life”
on 20 Dec 2008 at 3:22 pm15The Way of a Pilgrim

[...] Books of 2008 9. Jesus Creed books of the year 10. Anne Rice on writing exclusively for God 11. Mangerology 12. When is it cost-effective to use money as toilet paper 13. 40 inspirational speeches in 2 [...]
on 22 Dec 2008 at 10:46 pm16tamigirlrocks

Thanks so much for the “food of thought” tonight. As for our baby Christ whacking his little toes and hands on the side of the trough, I think his mom paid very close attention to those baby actions.
on 24 Dec 2008 at 10:29 am17John Frye

tamigirlrocks,
You’re probably correct, and how much movement does one have wrapped in “swaddling clothes”?
on 25 Dec 2009 at 7:32 pm18Eric

A stone manger….a stone grave….very similar.