After the birth of Jesus wise men came from the east. They are called ‘wise’ because they figured out what God was showing in the night sky as they looked toward Jerusalem. They were wealthy because they brought expensive gifts...which means they had a large ‘protection’ squad with them. (Considering the way things were in those days they had to have loads of security with them.) So, I’m thinking many people saw this visit, even if it was in the wee hours of the morning when the stars were still out.
Both www.bethlehemstar.net and A Visual Guide to Bible Events (which quotes James Martin’s book Exploring Bible Times) talk about the possibility that these men studied Daniel’s teachings and that they were not just astrologers but officials in the Persian (Parthian) government.
Several points support this. First, there was still a Jewish remnant living in the Babylon region. I didn’t know this until recently.
Second, the gifts they brought would have taken many well-to-do people several years to accumulate. If the men had been ‘just astrologers’...would they have been well off enough to afford the expensive gifts? The large number of people to protect said gifts? And, the money and resources to afford a long trip with such a large group out to Judea and back home to Babylon?
Third, the men inquired in a way that indicates they knew some protocol to take when seeking to bring tribute to royalty. There's more to say on this point, but I think I'll leave it for next week.
I can only imagine the thoughts that ran through the minds of the citizens of Bethlehem as they dwelt on the visits. Who is this boy? Back when he was born, that same night, those shepherds came to see him. And now, people wealthy enough to be kings, dressed in Persian clothes, are here to see him. Who told? How did they know?
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