CHAPTER IV. THE VISIT OF THE MAGI. TIME-Soon after the expiration of forty-one days from the birth of Jesus. February, A. U. C. 750. PLACE-At Bethlehem. "In a house."-Matthew. N the days of Herod the king, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, References. Matt. 2: I, 23. Num. 24: 17. "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? "For we saw His star, in the east, and are come to worship Him." Startling news to King Herod! A "King of the Jews," born in Judea, under the very shadow of his palace, and the news thereof spread to Persia (i. e., the "east"), and Herod had not heard of it? The evidence must have been conclusive that the Messiah, or "King of the Jews," was born, and as such Herod received it. "It troubled him." In other words, it alarmed him. Detaining the unwelcome messengers from the east, Herod hastily summoned that once august body, the Sanhedrin, and earnestly inquired of them, where Jesus should be born, well knowing the Jewish expectation of a Messiah. While he is making this inquiry of the proper authorityfor it was well authenticated, not only among the Jewish authorities, but also among Gentiles, that a new King of Israel was shortly to appear-let us inquire 62 THE MAGI-BABYLON. Who were the "wise men?" Professional astrologers of the east. "The east" doubtless refers to Persia, particularly Babylon. 'Historically the Magi, i. c, the 'wise men,' are conspicuous chiefly as a Persian religious caste."-Smith's Bib. Dict. Herodotus reckoned them among the six tribes of the Medes, and in his history of Astyages (last King of Media, B. C. 593), as interpreters of dreams. Astrologers and interpreters were one. We first learn of them in Scripture in the book of Jeremiah (39: 3 and 13), where Rab-mag, with the other princes of the King of Babylon, came and sat in the middle gate. The name Rab-mag is interpreted as equivalent to chief of the Magi. This high dignitary was sent to Jerusalem (B. C. 600) among Nebuchadnezzar's chief officers; therefore it was no new thing, in Christ's time, for "wise men" to visit the city of David. Furthermore, this fact shows their high station. There is a tradition which makes them kings, or their equals, which is probably founded on the prophecy of Isaiah (60: 3)—“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." Or to Psalms (72: 10): "The kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring thee gifts." The Magi or magicians were also astrologers or, vulgarly, 'star-gazers," and among such Daniel and his fellow-prisoners were classed during their detention in Babylon (B. C. 604). When the king in his anger, because they could not interpret his dream, ordered all his magicians slain, the executioner sought out Daniel and his companions to mingle their blood with the other "wise men" of the realm (Daniel 2: 13-18). Thus we trace the wise men back to the Babylonian captivity, and find them of a Babylonian origin. The city of Babylon was situated upon both banks of the river Euphrates, covering with its walls, fortresses, royal palaces, temples and houses, many of which were three and four stories in height, streets, squares, bridges, hanging-gardens and towers, an area of about two hundred square miles. |