Obviously, wood-constructed mangers like we know from our Nativity would not survive for modern archaeologists to find, but stone-carved and plaster-lined mangers are known from excavations to be on the ground floor of domestic structures in Israel throughout biblical times (see I Samuel 28:24; Judges 11:31; Luke 13:15).

An ancient manger found at Megiddo in Israel, from the time of King Ahab. A manger is a feed trough found in a stable.

Although no barn is mentioned in the text, the “manger” (phatna) is prominent (Luke 2:7, 12, 16). Obviously, wood-constructed mangers like we know from our Nativity would not survive for modern archaeologists to find, but stone-carved and plaster-lined mangers are known from excavations to be on the ground floor of domestic structures in ...

It is yet another reason why this town of Bethlehem was chosen. Jesus was the Lamb of God, as described by John The Baptist and was God’s first-born son. It was the shepherds of Bethlehem who would first come to pay homage to the new-born babe in the manger, before the The Magi from the East would do so. That too was prophesied.

The manger in which Jesus was laid, and which served as a sign for the shepherds to find him, was almost surely such a trough for water. This is because in ancient Israel there was no need for a feed box filled with hay. Domestic animals were able to feed on the plentiful grass that grew in the rocky hills of Judea. Grass was available all year ...