Who were the Magi?

When facts are not placed conveniently together it’s easy to get the wrong picture. The Bible, however, does hold all the facts, sometimes we just need to search them out.

The Three Wise Men or Kings are common figures in school nativity plays bearing their gifts, but how were they wise and how did they know a Messiah was to be born? 

​”After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the One who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.’” Matthew 2v1-2

Historically who were the Magi?  Of the word used in the New Testament, magos (μάγος) Strong’s definition is: The name given by the Babylonians (Chaldeans), Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augers, soothsayers, sorcerers etc.  We can also find an equivalent of such people in the Old Testament which enables us to trace a little of their history.  Historians may not agree how far back these people go, yet all seem to agree that they are an ancient people and were still around at the time of our Lord’s birth.  Daniel, who stayed on in Babylon after the captives were allowed to return to Israel, held a position of high authority and was a prophet, so would have been involved with these groups if not part of them.  (Dan 5:11)

So how did they know about the birth of the Christ?  We can imagine that throughout the generations groups of these Magi discussed and investigated the prophecies that continued to be passed down and that they took these prophecies seriously.  Their conviction was so high that when the star appeared some of them headed to Jerusalem where they expected a Jewish king to be and then followed the star onwards to Bethlehem.

So, did the Magi arrive in Bethlehem while the family was still using their makeshift quarters and Jesus was still sleeping in the manger?  Taking our information from the Bible, we know that Jesus was at the bare minimum over a month in age and the family was now living in a house.  

“When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” Luke 2v22-24

Reading Luke 2v22-24, we can pick out a few clues just from when Jesus is presented at the temple.  Jewish law states that a woman is not allowed out in Jewish society after giving birth to a boy for 40 days (Lev 12:1-4) and we also know that when they did present Jesus at the temple their offering was that of a poor family (Lev 12:8).  We can hardly imagine that if the Magi had already been and given their gifts that Joseph and Mary would give such a poor offering.  By this time we can also surmise that Bethlehem would have quietened down as people returned to their own towns and Joseph and Mary would have been able to rent proper lodgings (Matt 2:8-11).

It may be convenient for us to have the wise men turn up at the same time as the shepherds huddled around the manger, it certainly makes less scenery changes in the nativity plays, but as we follow the true story as it unfolds in the Bible, we are reminded that sometimes we too must wait on God

First published in 2023