Keystone Christian Reading Room

Note: The results of this study does not alter in any way the chronology of the life of Christ as previously taught nor does it alter any of the teachings of our Lord and Savior.

The Magi

Who were the Magi? They came from the court of the Parthian kings (East) bearing expensive gifts for a newborn king. They were originally one of the six tribes of the Medes, a priestly caste similar to the Levites. In their early history their occupation was to provide the kings of the Medes and Persians (also Babylonians) with divine information about daily affairs. Because of the high religious esteem accorded them by the peoples of the East, they were able, in the 6th century BC, to overturn royal powers.

Their role in interpreting divine matters is also mentioned in the Bible, as Daniel in the days of Nebuchadnezzar became the "chief of the magicians (master of the "Magi"), conjurers, Chaldeans, and diviners" (Dan.5:11; cp. Jer.39:13, where one Rab-mag was the chief office of the Magi). Daniel's influence over the Magian colleges of the East must explain why they were looking for astronomical confirmation to go along with the prophesies that called for a Jewish king to be born in those days (Dan.9:24-27).

They were not of the certain classes of charlatans and sorcerers who preyed upon people, as Herod and Jerusalem would have hardly been troubled by such persons (Mt.2:1-12).

The Romans were also aware of the prophecy: "A firm belief had long prevailed through the East that it was destined for the empire of the world at that time to be given to someone who should go forth from Judaea". "The majority of the Jewish people were very impressed with the belief that it was contained in ancient writings of the priests that it would come to pass that at that time, the East would renew its strength and they that should go forth from Judaea should be rulers of the world". Even Nero was advised by court astrologers that it was prudent for him to move his seat of empire to Jerusalem because the city was destined to become the capital of the world".

The Magi were well acquainted with the national aspirations of the Jews (as with all peoples, so they could act as advisers).

Most Jews of the time admired the Magi, as they were not idolaters, and because of their former association with Daniel (their main occupation was in the interpretation of things divine: dreams, visions, prophecies, astronomical signs).

When the particular group came to Jerusalem, they came to worship the king, and isn't it interesting that the gifts brought by the Magi (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) were the gifts mentioned in the Greek translation of Isa.60:6 that foreign kings would bring to Israel's Messiah? The gifts were the customary gifts of subject nations, and so this act signified something more than another royal birth (their presence got Herod's attention, as well as all Jerusalem, and so Herod called a special session of the Sanhedrin to evaluate what the Magi had said).

The main factor which brought them to Jerusalem was "his star", of which there was nothing of astronomical significance in 5/4BC that would have impressed anyone to make the long and difficult journey to Jerusalem. But in 3/2BC the whole heavens seemed to burst forth with astronomical signs in the constellations of Leo (Judah) and Virgo (the Virgin), associated with Jupiter (the king-planet) and Regulus (the king-star).

The sequence of events leading up to the visit of the Magi. It has long been recognized that the Magi arrived in Jerusalem some time after Christ was born (Matthew 2:2). He had been circumcised (Luke 2:21) and presented in the Temple some 40 days after His birth (Luke 2:22-24). Luke says: "They returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth" (Luke 2:39). This means that they did not go to Egypt after Jesus' birth. Then for some reason, they decided to move to Bethlehem, where they set up house (Matthew 2:11). When the Magi arrived, the parents of Jesus were then living in a house (not a stable; Matthew 2:11), and Jesus was being called a paidion (child), not a brephos (infant).

After the Magi presented their gifts, they returned home by a different route, having been warned by an angel. The holy family fled to Egypt in late December, 2BC. Herod, in his paranoia, murdered the male children in and around Bethlehem two years old and younger (Matthew 2:16; this killing of all male children two and under makes sense in light of the astronomical phenomena of the previous two years discussed here).