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Bible Encyclopedias
Manger
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or is the rendering found in Luke 2:7; Luke 2:12; Luke 2:16, of the term , φατνη used to designate the place in which the infant Redeemer was cradled; which seems to denote a crib or "stall" for feeding cattle, as it is rendered in Luke 13:15 (see Horrei Miscell. Crit. Leon. 1738, bk. 2, ch. 16). It is employed in the Sept. in a similar sense for the Heb. אֵבוּס, Job 39:9; Isaiah 1:3; also by Josephus, Ant. 8:2, 4; comp. Lucan, Tim. p. 14; Xenophon, — Eg. 4:1. Gersdorff (Beitrege zur Sprachchalrakterestik des N.T. p. 220) is in favor of translating the word crib everywhere, and quotes Elian (apud Suid. s.v.), Philo (De sommdiis, p. 872, b. ed. Colon. 1613), and Sybile. Eryth. (ap. Lactantius, 7:24, 12) to that effect. Schleusner (Lex. s.v.) says it is any enclosure, but especially the vestibule to the house, where the cattle were enclosed, not with walls, but wooden hurdles; but in common Greek the word undoubtedly often refers to a trough hollowed out to receive the food for horses, etc. (see Homer, II. v. 271; 10:568; 24:280). The Peshito Version evidently so understands it. On the other hand, it is doubtful if such a contrivance as a proper manger was known in the East, especially in the khans or "inns" of the description alluded to in the text. (See CARAVANSERAI).
"Stables and mangers, in the sense in which we understand them, are of comparatively late introduction into the East (see the quotations from Chardin and others in Harmer's Observations, 2:205), and, although they have furnished material to modern painters and poets, did not enter into the circumstances attending the birth of Christ, and are hardly less inaccurate than the ‘ cradle' and the ‘ stable' which are named in some descriptions of that event." We are therefore doubtless here to regard the term as designating the ledge or projection in the end of the room used as a stable, on which they have or other food of the animals of travelers was placed. (See Strong's Harmonyos and Expos. of the Gospels, p. 14.) Several of the Christian fathers maintain at that the stable itself was in a cave, and the identical manger in which the infant Jesus is traditionally stated to have lain is still shown by the superstitious monks, being no other than a marble sarcophagus; but the whole story is at variance with the narrative in the Gospels. (See Meldon, De praesepi Christi, Jen. 1662.) (See BETHLEHEM).
"avernier, speaking of Aleppo, states that" in the caravanserais, on each side of the hall, for persons of the best quality, there are lodgings for every man by himself. These lodgings are raised a along the court, two or three steps high, just behind which are the stables, where many times it is as good lying as in the chambers. Right against the head of every horse there is a niche with a window into the lodging-chamber, out of which every man may see that his horse is looked after. These niches are usually so large that three men may lie in them, and here the servants dress their victuals." In modern Oriental farm-houses, however, something corresponding to a Western "manager" may be found." It is common to find two sides of the one room where the native farmer resides with his cattle fitted up with these mangers, and the remainder elevated about two feet higher for the accommodation of the family. The mangers are built of small stones and mortar, in the shape of a box, or, rather, of a kneading- trough, and when cleaned up and whitewashed, as they often are in summer, they do very well to lay little babes in" (Thomson, Land and Book, 2:98). (See STABLE).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Manger'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/m/manger.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
