Jerusalem history

Magi – In a Jewish Nativity Story?

Adoration of the Magi by Claude Vignon, 1694.

Magi were scorned by Judaism for their mystical reputation.^[1] Not motivated by an ancient prophecy or a prophet, an angelic appearance, or any type of divine revelation, the Magi’s actions were compelled by an awe-inspiring scene they observed in the night sky.

Clearly was not worried the inclusion of the Magi would be called into question by his contemporaries, Matthew’s introduction of the Magi into the Nativity story has a full historical context behind its setting. Matthew covered the wise men magi story with 12 verses, at least 10 providing specific details.^[3]

Greek text of Matthew uses the word magos, the Latin word equivalent to magus, its plural form is magi.^[2] The word is sometimes translated into English as “wise men” – both translations are correct.

Babylonians, Medes and Persians viewed magos as an eclectic group of priests, physicians, teachers, soothsayers, interpreters of dreams, astrologers, and sorcerers. It is easy to see how these wise men magi could be referred to as “mystics.” Not surprisingly, magi is the root word of “magic.”

^{MT 2:1} “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem…” _(NIV)

^{MT 2:1}“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem…” _(NRSV)

Roman era Jewish society had a dual-perspective of magi. One perspective was that of the famed Hebrew, Daniel, a Israelite of royal descent captured by Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was placed into the elite Babylonian school of the Chaldeans which included an education in astronomy and astrology.^[5]

God gave “Daniel understanding in all visions and dreams,” a gift that landed him in Nebuchadnezzar’s royal council of wise men, the chakkiym.^[6] Later, Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel chief of all magi, a position known as Rab-mag.^[7]

After the Medes and Persians overthrew the Babylonian Empire, Daniel’s “extraordinary spirit” again elevated him to a high level in the new government.^[8] Under King Cyrus the main religion was Zoroastrianism where its founder, Zoroaster, was is often considered to be the original magi and priests of Zoroastrianism were called “magi.”.^[9]

Setting the stage for the other Jewish perspective of magi began when Alexander the Great marched through Judea. Open-minded Hellenistic culture of the Greek Empire allowed the Jews religious freedom, but it also introduced Zoroastrianism that was intermingled with influences of the Babylonian chakkiym. ^[10]

Over the coming decades, the effects of Hellenism on Jewish culture was unavoidable much to the frustration of the Jewish Rabbis. Liberal philosophies of Hellenism permeated Jewish culture meanwhile Greek became the common language.^[11] Next came the Roman Empire which seemed content to leave the prevailing culture in Judea alone.^[12]

As expert astronomers, magi used the legendary Babylonian astronomical science and charts to study of the motion of stars past, present and future. Ability to plot upcoming cosmic events by these wise men were scientifically predictive, not “mystical.”^[13]

Toward the very end of the BC era a series of rare celestial conjunctions occurred, ones hard to ignore by astronomers then or today. Witnessing just one such rare conjunction can be an once-in-a-lifetime experience. Imagine the scenario where, in a space of just 5 years from 7-2 BC, there were 13 rare conjunctions including two triple conjunctions!^[14]

Zoroastrianism beliefs held that celestial events served as signs with earthly significance. Signs of a newborn king observed by the magi were so awe-inspiring, they set out on a month’s long quest to find and worship him.^[15] Matthew does not say there were only three magi...the number of magi may or may not be accurate.

Not just anyone appearing on the door step of the King’s palace would expect to gain entry. Signifying King Herod‘s regard for magi, when they arrived unannounced the magi had no problem gaining direct access to the King who gave them his immediate and full attention.

Herod did not question the credibility of the magi when they gave him the alarming news about the birth of a King of the Jews. Neither did Herod’s Jewish religious experts who instead pointed the King to Micah’s prophecy saying a Jewish ruler was to be born in Bethlehem.

Believing the prophecy to be true, Herod invited the magi back for another meeting to investigate the timing of the star, directed them to Bethlehem, and slyly asked for their help in finding the exact location of this newborn king. Angered when they didn’t return, Herod’s reaction by killing all the children 2 years old and under in the Bethlehem district demonstrates his belief in the truth of the magi’s message about a newborn King of the Jews.

King Herod and his royal Jewish religious council believed the credibility and message of the magi. How likely is it that the Jewish author of Matthew would unnecessarily introduce the magi…unless the author also believed it to be true?

Updated December 17, 2023.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] Deuteronomy 4, 18. Soncino Babylonian Talmud. Sanhedrin 98a. <https://israelect.com/Come-and-Hear/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_98.html> “Zoroastrianism – Magi.” Geni. 2016. <https://www.geni.com/projects/Zoroastrianism-Magi/13185>
[2] “magus.” WordReference.com. <http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=magus> “magi.” WordReference.com. <http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=magi> “magus.” Merriam-Webster <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magus>
[3] Matthew 2:1-12.
[4] Martin, Ernest L. The Star of Bethlehem – The Star That Astonished the World. 2017. Chapter 2. A.S.K. (Associates for Scriptural Knowledge. <http://web.archive.org/web/20170226050457/http://www.askelm.com/star/star002.htm>
[5] Daniel 1. Guisepi, Robert. “The Chaldeans, The Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonian) Empire.” International World History Project. 2007. <http://history-world.org/chaldeans.htm> “Chaldea.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com> “Chaldea.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/4213-chaldea>
[6] NKJV. Daniel 1- 2. “Magi.” New World Encyclopedia. 2014. <http://web.archive.org/web/20211122161026/http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Magi> Net.bible.org. Daniel 2:12 Hebrew text “chakkiym” <02445>. “Chaldea.” Jewish Encyclopedia. Diodorus of Sicily. Mesopotamia: Ninus, Semiramis, the wonders of Babylon; Sardanapalus, Chaldaean astrology. Vol. I. Book II. University of Chicago|Bill Thayer. 2017. Page 431 # 24 ; p 447-457 #29-31. <http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/home.html>
[7] Jeremiah 39:3, 13.
[8] NASB. Daniel 6, 10-12. Deuteronomy 4:19. Gascoigne, Bamber. “History of Zoroastrianism.” HistoryWorld.net. n.d. <http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab71> “Zoroastrianism – Magi.” Geni. “Daniel, the Magi and the Luni-solar Calendar of Israel.” TryGod.com. 2017. <http://try-god.com/daniel-the-magi-and-the-luni-solar-calendar-of-israel.php
[9] Zoroastrianism.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/15283-zoroastrianism> Eduljee, K. E. “Magi – Zoroastrian Priests.” Zoroastrian Heritage. 2012. <http://zoroastrianheritage.blogspot.com/2012/09/magi.html>
[10] “Hellenism.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/7535-hellenism>. Hooker, Richard. “Alexander the Great – Hellenistic Greece.” Washington State University. 1999. <http://web.archive.org/web/20110104072822/http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GREECE/ALEX.HTM> “Zoroastrianism – Magi.” Geni. “Zoroastrianism.” BBC|The British Broadcasting Corporation. 2009. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian> Jafarey, Ali Akbar. “The Achaemenians, Zoroastrians in Transition.” CAIS|The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies. 2015. <http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Religions/iranian/Zarathushtrian/achaemenian_zarathushtrian.htm> Hooker, Richard. “Mesopotamia: The Persians.” Washington State University. 1996. <http://web.archive.org/web/20110514001358/http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/PERSIANS.HTM> Hooker, Richard. “Hellenistic Greece: Hellenism.” Washington State University. 1999. <http://web.archive.org/web/20110104072353/http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GREECE/HELLGREE.HTM> “Zoroastrianism.” ReligionFacts.com. 2014. <http://www.religionfacts.com/zoroastrianism/index.htm> Reed, Vicky. “The Religion of the Persian Empire.” EsthersLegacy.com. 2011. <http://estherslegacy.com> “Zoroastrianism.” PersianEmpire.info. 2007. <http://persianempire.info/zoro.htm> Gascoigne. “History of Zoroastrianism.” Gascoigne, Bamber. “Iran (Persia) timeline.” HistoryWorld.net. n.d. <http://www.historyworld.net/timesearch/default.asp?conid=static_timeline&timelineid=759&page=1&keywords=Iran+%28Persia%29+timeline> Eduljee. “Greek Perceptions of Zoroaster, Zoroastrianism & the Magi.” Zoroastrian Heritage. 2011. <http://zoroastrianheritage.blogspot.com/2011/04/greek-perceptions-of-zoroaster.html> Leverington, David A. Babylon to Voyager and Beyond – A History of Planetary Astronomy. Chapter 1. 2003. <http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/08408/sample/9780521808408ws.pdf> Diodorus. Mesopotamia: Ninus, Semiramis, the wonders of Babylon; Sardanapalus, Chaldaean astrology. Vol.I, Book II. Page 457; #31.
[11] Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews. Book XII, Chapter II.
[12] Hooker. “Hellenistic Greece: Hellenism.” Petrucci, Valerio. “Hellenization and Romanization – the Dialogue Between Greek and Roman Cultures in the 1^st and 2^nd Centuries.” 2017. Academia. <https://www.academia.edu> “Judaea.” Livius.org. Ed. Jona Lendering. 2019. <https://www.livius.org/articles/place/judaea>
[13] Eduljee, K. E. “Greek Perceptions of Zoroaster, Zoroastrianism & the Magi.” Zoroastrian Heritage. 25 Apr. 2011. <http://zoroastrianheritage.blogspot.com/2011/04/greek-perceptions-of-zoroaster.html> Leverington. Babylon to Voyager and Beyond – A History of Planetary Astronomy. Chapter 1.
[14] Carroll, Susan S. “The Star of Bethlehem: An Astronomical and Historical Perspective.” Pulcherrima Productions. 1997. Twin Cities Creation Science Association. n.d. <http://www.tccsa.tc/articles/star_susan_carroll.pdf> Phillips, Tony. “A Christmas Star for SOHO.” NASA Science | Science New. 16 May 2000. <http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast16may_1> “Birth of Jesus.” Navsoft.com. 2012. <http://navsoft.com/html/birth_of_jesus.html> Martin. The Star of Bethlehem. Chapters 1, 4. <http://web.archive.org/web/20170111193244/http://www.askelm.com/star/star001.htm> <http://web.archive.org/web/20170821004027/http://www.askelm.com/star/star004.htm> Cain, Fraser. “Venus and Jupiter’s Upcoming Conjunction.” Universe Today. 29 Oct. 2004. <http://www.universetoday.com/10006/venus-and-jupiters-upcoming-conjunction/#ixzz2B6cvKJEt> Sielaff, David. “An Important August 2 B.C.E. Conjunction.” A.S.K. (Associates For Scriptural Knowledge), 2005. <http://www.askelm.com/news/n051211.htm> Clevenger, John. “Astronomy, Astrology, and the Star of Bethlehem.” Lake County (Illinois) Astronomical Society. n.d. <http://www.lcas-astronomy.org/articles/display.php?filename=the_christmas_star&category=miscellaneous> Haley, A. S. “The Star of Bethlehem and the Nativity.” Anglican Curmudgeon. 2009. <http://accurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2009/10/star-of-bethlehem-and-nativity.html> Newman, Robert C. “The Star of Bethlehem: A Natural-Supernatural Hybrid?” Interdisciplinary Bible Research Institute. IBRI Paper (2001). <http://www.newmanlib.ibri.org/Papers/StarofBethlehem/75starbethlehem.htm> Beatty, Kelly. “Venus and Jupiter: Together at Last.” Sky & Telescope. 25 June 2015. <http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/venus-and-jupiter-a-dazzling-duo-062520154> Ratnikas, Algis. “Timeline 499BCE – 1BCE.” Timeslines of History. n.d. <http://timelines.ws/0D499_1BC.HTML> Pratt, John P. “The Star of Bethlehem’s Forerunner.” JohnPratt.com. <http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2000/xmas_star.html> “Star of Bethlehem May Have Been Planets Jupiter, Venus.” IU News Room. 16 Dec. 2003. <http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/1203.html&t=Star%20of%20Bethlehem%20may%20have%20been%20planets%20Jupiter%20and%20Venus> Mosley, John. “Common Errors in ‘Star of Bethlehem’ Planetarium Shows.” Third Quarter 1981, International Planetarium Society, Inc. n.d. <http://www.ips-planetarium.org/?page=a_mosley1981> Flescher, Eric and Sessions, Larry. “Ten ‘Star’ of Bethlehem Myths: Part II.” Space.com. 26 Dec. 2001. <http://web.archive.org/web/20041205014757/http://space.com:80/SpaceReportersNetworkAstronomyDiscoveries/flescher_Xmasstar2_122601.html> Cain, Fraser. “Venus-Jupiter Conjunction, March 15th, 2012.” Universe Today. 13 Mar. 2012. <http://www.universetoday.com/94113/venus-jupiter-conjunction-march-15th-2012 > Fazekas, Andrew. “Christmas Star Mystery Continues.” National Geographic Daily News. 24 Dec. 2008. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081224-star-bethlehem.html>
[15] “Trade between the Romans and the Empire of Asia.” Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/silk/hd_silk.htm> National Museum of American History, “Trade Routes” > “Major Trade Routes of 2^nd Century BCE – 1^st Century CE.” <http://web.archive.org/web/20160618154742/http://americanhistory.si.edu:80/numismatics/parthia/frames/pamaec.htm> “Iran Historical Maps Arsacid Parthian Empire, Armenian Kingdom.” Atlas of Iran Maps. n.d. Iran Politics Club. 2014. <http://iranpoliticsclub.net/maps/maps04/index.htm>

David – the Iconic King of Israel

Stories of David are told in the Bible about his amazing heroics – how he became King of Israel, his rule of the kingdom … and his great sins. In-spite-of his flaws, David became the subject of virtually undisputed prophecies that foretold the Messiah would come through his lineage.^[1]

Accounts begin with his father who was Jesse from Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah. Red-headed David, the youngest of 8 boys, was assigned to be the shepherd of his father’s sheep. Alone in the wilderness, he became an expert with a slingshot and single-handedly killed lions and bears who threatened the flock.^[2]

Summoned one day by his father to their home in Bethlehem, David was a surprised when he discovered the prophet Samuel was there waiting, too. Shockingly, the prophet anointed David as God’s choice to be the next King of Israel in-spite-of the fact Israel already had a ruling King.^[3] Nothing changed immediately, but David’s legendary actions began to grow soon thereafter…

Three of David’s brothers were fighting in Israel’s army supported by their father who routinely sent David to them with supplies. During one visit, David was astonished to see Israel’s army afraid of an ace giant Philistine warrior named Goliath who challenged and taunted Israel’s army daily.

Asking King Saul’s permission to battle Goliath, the shepherd boy was ridiculed by his older brothers and even King Saul tried to discourage David; however, the King relented. Defiantly David announced to Goliath he would kill him in the name of the Lord and cut off his head, but David was still cursed and mocked by the giant Philistine.

David did just as he said – with a slingshot and a single stone he killed Goliath, then used Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head. That very day David was placed in the service of King Saul.^[4]

Fame eventually made Saul jealous of David forcing him to go into hiding when Saul tried to kill him.^[5] Failing to seek and obey God’s guidance would cost King Saul his own life and that of his sons in battle.

After Saul’s death, David became king, but he had no throne and the fortified city of Jebus was in David’s sight. ^[6] With the notoriety of being a skilled formidable warrior from serving in King Saul’s army, David had become well-known to his enemies.^[7] Using his savvy reputation, David formed an army from the tribes of Israel and advanced toward Jebus.

Hurling insults at Israel’s approaching army, the Jebusites taunted them shouting “the blind and the lame” could fight off Israel and in arrogant mockery positioned lame and blind people on the city walls.^[8] Taking great offense, David offered his commanding leaders the position of General to whomever led the army to victory over Jebus.^[9]

Joab won the challenge and became the commanding General of Israel’s army. Jebus, formerly known as Salem, now was called by new names – the City of David, Jerusalem, also called Zion.^[10]

Basking in the glory of his kingdom, David decided to take a census contrary to God’s past instructions because it demonstrated a lack of faith in God.^[11] General Joab pressed the King not to do it, but David persisted.^[12]

Punishment delivered by an “angel of the Lord” for David’s sin was heavy upon the nation whereupon the King pleaded with God to punish only himself and his family because Israel was innocent. Prophet Gad delivered God’s response instructing David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah located on Mount Moriah and offer an atonement sacrifice for the people of Israel.^[13]

Purchasing the threshing floor, the oxen and materials, David himself built the altar. Astonishingly, God sent fire down from heaven to consume the sacrifice.

Moved deeply, David declared: “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offerings for Israel.”^[14] The Temple was to be built on Mount Moriah, the place where a 1000 years earlier Abraham took his only son, Isaac, to be sacrificed, but spared at the last moment with a substitute sacrificial ram.^[15]

News came from God to David in the form of a prophecy came through the prophet Nathan. He foretold that David’s future son would be the one to build the House of God fulfilling one of the promises God made to Moses at Mt. Sinai.^[16]

^{2 Sam 7:12-13} “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”^[17]

Lord Acton’s quote “absolute power corrupts absolutely” applied even to King David. From his palace rooftop, David watched his neighbor’s wife taking a bath.

Ironically, her name was Bath-Sheba. Dispatching his men to bring her to his palace, David seduced her and she became pregnant.^[18]

Bath-Sheba’s husband, Uriah, was one of the King’s top military officers away fighting a war – how would Bath-Sheba explain away her pregnancy? David devised a cover-up plan.

Uriah was summoned from the battlefield at the behest of David under the pretense of earning a well-deserved leave from duty. The true reason was to give Bath-Sheba an opportunity to have marital relations with her husband to legitimize her pregnancy.

Backfiring, the loyal Uriah did not think it would be fair to his troops back on the battlefield if he were at home enjoying the pleasures of his wife. The King’s back-up scheme was much more sinister.

To the front lines of war David sent Uriah with the expectation Uriah would die in battle. Indeed, he was killed in action.

A royally planned and executed murder plot seemed foolproof – except to God. Prophet Nathan exposed David’s sin bringing judgment upon the King and Bath-Sheba when their ill-conceived baby died.^[19]

In spite of his deplorable sins of adultery and murder, God still honored His promise to David. Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah over the following centuries would prophesy that the Messiah would come from the House of David, prophecies attested by renowned Jewish Sages Rashi and Maimonides.^[20]

David also wrote many of the Psalms, some deemed to be prophetic.^[21] First words of Psalms 22, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” were cried out by Jesus shortly before he died on the cross. Psalms 22 depicts the dramatic image of a man dying in agony and humiliation, remarkably consistent in specific detail of the circumstances of the Roman crucifixion of Jesus a millennium later.

As a mortal, Jesus would have no control over being born a 1000 years later into the royal lineage of David nor in Bethlehem, David’s hometown. It is especially exceptional considering that up until the last moment, Jesus was expected to be born in Nazareth, a week’s-long journey away.

From King David to Jesus, what are the odds of improbability all these events were just a coincidence?

Updated January 26, 2024.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] I Samuel 16. CR I Chronicles 2; Matthew 1:6; Luke 3:31-32.
[2] I Samuel 17.
[3] I Sam. 16; Chronicles 2, 10.
[4] I Samuel 18. “David and Goliath.” WallpaperCave. photo. n.d. <https://wallpapercave.com/wp/wp3721504.jpg>
[5] I Samuel 19.
[6] 2 Samuel 2, 5. 1 Chronicles 10, 11.
[7] 1Chronicles 11.
[8] I Chronicles 11; 2 Samuel 5. Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Book VII, Chapter III.1. <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false>
[9] 2 Samuel 5; I Chronicles 11. Josephus. Antiquity. Book VII, Chapter III.1.
[10] I Chronicles 17:1. Josephus. Antiquity. Book VII, Chapter III.1-2. <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false> Net.bible.org. Hebrew text. “Jebus <2982>” <https://net.bible.org> Lexicon-Concordance Online Bible. Hebrew “J^ebuw <2982>” (Brown-Driver-Briggs). <http://lexiconcordance.com> Dolphin, Lambert. “Mount Moriah, Site of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.” TempleMount.org. 1996. <http://www.templemount.org/moriah2.html> “Zion.” Fausset Bible Dictionary. 1878. http://classic.studylight.org/dic/fbd> “Zion.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2024. <https://www.britannica.com/place/Zion-hill-Jerusalem>
[11] Exodus 30.
[12] I Chronicles 21; 2 Samuel 24.
[13] I Chronicles 21; 2 Chronicles 3; 2 Samuel 24.
[14] NKJV. I Chronicles 21-22. 2 Samuel 24. “Araunah.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com> “The Site – The Temple Mount.” Bible-History.com. n.d. <http://www.bible-history.com/jewishtemple/JEWISH_TEMPLEThe_Site.htm> Josephus. Antiquities. Book VII, Chapter III.
[15] I Chronicles 22; 2 Chronicles 3.
[16] Genesis 49; 2 Samuel 5; 1 Chronicles 11, 17; Chronicles 5; 1Kings 2; Judges 1; Psalms 76. Josephus. Antiquities. Book VII, Chapter III.2.
[17] NASB. I Chronicles 17.
[18] 2 Samuel 11. “Lord Acton writes to Bishop Creighton…” Online Library of Liberty. 2017. <http://oll.libertyfund.org/quote/214> “King David Quotes.” AZQuotes. photo. n.d. <https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/king-david.html>
[19] 2 Samuel 12.
[20] Isaiah 9; Jeremiah 23; 33; Zechariah 12. The Compete Jewish Bible – with Rashi Commentary. Rashi commentaries: Gensis 49:10; Numbers 24:17; Zechariah 12:12; Micah 5:2. Maimonides. Mishneh Torah. “The Law Concerning Moshiach.” Chapter 11. <http://www.kesser.org/moshiach/rambam.html#SIE>
[21] The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi’s Commentary. Rashi commentaries on Micah 5:2 and Psalms 118:22. “Salvation.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011.