The Historical Christmas Magi
Wise Men From the East Searched for a King in Ancient Judea
Tradition and mystery cloak the wise men of the Christmas story. Were there three or more of them? Did they have names?
There is not, it appears, to date, any record declaring the exact number of wise men who paid homage to Jesus. Because they brought three gifts, gold (for a king), frankincense (incense to worship God) and myrrh (for burial preparation - Jesus' crucifixion), tradition places the number of the wise men at three.
Their names are not known, either, even though tradition, depending upon location, has bestowed upon them three names, Balthasar (King of Arabia), Melchior (King of Persia), and Gasper (King of India). [1]. However, there appear to be no records, to date, that declare these men were kings. This, too, has become a tradition.
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea...magi from the east came to Jerusalem saying...Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him." [2].
Specialized Priests
The Magi of the Gospel of Matthew were not followers of Zoroaster. This faction developed later in time.
The word magi is a, "Latinized form of the Greek word magoi, transliterated from the Persian, for a select sect of priests. (Our word "magic" comes from the same root.)" [3].
Though the present day word, "magic", is derived from magoi, the wise men from the Christmas story were a group of learned people who did not practice sorcery, though they may have had some practice in squelching demonic activity.
An historian of the ancient world by the name of Herodotus described the sect of the magi as astute astrologers and learned men who sought to edify their nation. Likewise, Philo of Alexandria, an ancient Greek/Jewish philosopher, described this group of people as scholars, philosophers, seekers of truth and of science and medicine. [4].
Their specialty was astrology. They believed that divine messages were communicated through the heavens and the celestial bodies displayed in the sky.
The Prophet Daniel
The prophet Daniel, of the Old Testament Book, Daniel, was a magi. He was the chief magi, better known as, Rab-Mag. He was appointed to this position through Darius, ruler of Persia. [5]. It would logically follow that Daniel may have informed the priests serving under him details regarding the messianic prophecy of a divine Jewish king who would save his people.
Herod
After the wise men inquired of Herod as to the location of the new king, Herod became alarmed, not surprisingly so, because the Jews at the time did not practice astrology/astronomy as the magi did. Plus, Herod contrived his own kingship. Fear of losing his throne would have caused this natural reaction to this startling news.
To add to his infamy, Herod ordered the slaughter of all Jewish males, known as the "Slaughter of the Innocents", aged two and under to eliminate this perceived new throne threat. He was not able to find Jesus. According to scripture, Joseph, the infant's adoptive father was warned in a dream of Herod's plans. The family fled to Egypt and did not return to Palestine until after Herod's death. [6].
Sources
[1, 3, 5] Magi
[2] Matthew 2:1-2, New American Standard Bible, Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee 37234, no date of publication, pg. 953,
[6] Matthew 1:20-25, New American Standard Bible, Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee 37234, no date of publication, pg. 953.
Adoration of the Magi, B. Murillo
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