Some have wondered why a group of humble shepherds “watching their flocks by night” would have been chosen to receive the angelic announcement of Christ’s birth and be honored to act as the first witnesses to the holy nativity. It is suggested that these men could have been Levitical priests who had the assignment of watching over the sheep that were to be used for temple sacrifices. Being sons of Levi, such priests receive by right the ministering of angels (see Numbers 8:19 and Doctrine and Covenants 13:1). The Bible does not tell us how many shepherds heard the announcement or came to the stable, but as witnesses, there would need to have been at least two.
The role of the shepherds and the sheep in the nativity are strong symbols of the Savior, who is known as both the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God.
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