The Magi: Who were They?

[asterisktom]

Having read the passage again I think that the best answer is that the star was a specially miraculous manifestation. I was willing to concede that it might be a comet but, on more carefully reading verse 9, I don't think that fits.

 

[beameup]

Disciples of Daniel

 

[kyredneck]

Hey Tom, as usual I find your post stirring me to review, rethink, and research. Some random comments:

One of those "various ways" that God spoke to the Jews at the closing of their age, and at the dawning of the age to come, was the "star" that pointed to the Messiah's birth.

As Aaron pointed out no mention made of anyone other than these Magi that actually saw the star. It seems the Magi knew 'when' the King of the Jews was to appear but not 'where':

2 Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
7 Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared.

But the Sanhedrin knew 'where':

4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet,

...a mere 5-6 miles away.

They were also called "kings" because of an assumed connection to Psalm 72:10:

"the kings of Tarshish, and of the Isles, and of Sheba, would offer gifts to the Lord,"

More than likely they were part of a much larger entourage then we have been taught to imagine. It may be that Herod became afraid, not only for their message - they were looking for his replacement, after all! - but also for their large number. It might have been quite a caravan of impressive strangers that turned heads in Jerusalem.

Excellent point! That would explain:

3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

I believe that it is a condescension of God that he used "inferior" (from the believer's viewpoint) methods to communicate His truth to whomever He wished. This would not be the first time he did this. The Philistines learned more about the holiness of God from the "golden tumors" and the toppling of their Dagon in their temple

...or Balaam's donkey, to name another. Definitely 'condescending'.

""I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth." Numbers 24:17

These commentary excerpts contain a lot of agreement with you concerning this passage:
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/numbers/24-17.htm

That was also pointedly aimed at the wicked King Herod. The phrase

"He will crush the foreheads of Moab"

had an application to Herod’s time as well as that of Balaam's patron, Balak. He was Idumean, of Moabite stock.

I don't doubt the passage also applies to Herod, descendent of Essau, but how was Herod also of Moabite stock?

[add]

their King, bundled up in a feeding trough

Not nitpicking, but:

11 And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wise-men.

Christ was probably a toddler when the Magi finally arrived. It was the shepherds that worshipped Him at His birth.

 

[OnlyaSinner]

"Christ was probably a toddler when the Magi finally arrived. It was the shepherds that worshipped Him at His birth."

"Probably a toddler" seems most likely, but I cannot be dogmatic. The time of star's appearance in the East is indeterminate; we almost always assume it was at the moment of Christ's birth, but scripture does not demand that timing, IMO. Then we don't know how long the journey of the magi took, nor how much extra slaughter was ordered by a paranoid and immoral Herod to ensure that the child would be eliminated.
I'm confident that the magi arrived sometime after Jesus was presented at the temple and met Simeon and Anna, but that confidence is based on human logic, not on any specific Bible verses.

 

[kyredneck]

Having read the passage again I think that the best answer is that the star was a specially miraculous manifestation. I was willing to concede that it might be a comet but, on more carefully reading verse 9, I don't think that fits.

What cinched it for you?

 

[asterisktom]

Hey Tom, as usual I find your post stirring me to review, rethink, and research. Some random comments:



As Aaron pointed out no mention made of anyone other than these Magi that actually saw the star. It seems the Magi knew 'when' the King of the Jews was to appear but not 'where':

2 Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
7 Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared.

But the Sanhedrin knew 'where':

4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet,

...a mere 5-6 miles away.



Excellent point! That would explain:

3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.



...or Balaam's donkey, to name another. Definitely 'condescending'.



These commentary excerpts contain a lot of agreement with you concerning this passage:
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/numbers/24-17.htm



I don't doubt the passage also applies to Herod, descendent of Essau, but how was Herod also of Moabite stock?

[add]



Not nitpicking, but:

11 And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wise-men.

Christ was probably a toddler when the Magi finally arrived. It was the shepherds that worshipped Him at His birth.

 

[asterisktom]

Thanks for the feedback, Ky. I am currently in Spain, far from my laptop, or or would answer more in detail. Your comments are well taken. I will try to find out more about the Moab part.

BTW I am now in Salamanca. I walked over a 1st century Roman bridge. The city itself has seen many battles and famous figures:Hannibal, Duke of Wellington, Napoleon.

 

[asterisktom]

What cinched it for you?

The description of the star guiding seemed more precise than a comet would do. But I wouldn't be dogmatic on it not being a comet. Planets or planets I would definitely rule out.