Shepherds

Shepherding is the oldest occupation the Bible names. Abel, the second man born, is introduced as a keeper of sheep, and his offering came from the firstborn of his flock (Genesis 4:2-4). From there the trade runs through the whole patriarchal narrative: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob measured their wealth in livestock, Jacob served Laban fourteen years for his daughters and six more for the flocks (Genesis 30:29-31; Genesis 31:41), and Jacob's sons told Pharaoh plainly that they and their fathers were keepers of livestock - a trade the text notes was detestable to the Egyptians (Genesis 46:32-34).

The office of king grew out of the same work. David was the youngest son, keeping the sheep, when Samuel came to Bethlehem to anoint him (1 Samuel 16:11), and he defended his claim before Saul by describing how he struck the lion and the bear that carried off a lamb (1 Samuel 17:34-36). Jesse, his father, held the flocks that David kept. Not every shepherd in Scripture is sympathetic: Nabal was a wealthy sheep-owner who refused David's men provisions (1 Samuel 25:2-11), and Doeg the Edomite was Saul's chief herdsman before he killed the priests of Nob (1 Samuel 21:7; 1 Samuel 22:18-19).

The last shepherds in this list are the ones outside Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flock by night, to whom the birth of the Messiah was announced first (Luke 2:8-20). Scripture builds its central image of care on the trade - the Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23:1) - and applies it to God, to Israel's rulers, and finally to Jesus as the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11).