Some think that these magi were the remnants of those who are left from the time of Daniel and had carried on what Daniel would have taught them at that time. Daniel was given knowledge of the future by prophecies that God gave him. We have those that are written down and they are accurate. Daniel could have also been given prophetic events that would have signaled the coming of the Messiah, and that this was the remnant from the time of Daniel, of those who were to “keep watch” for that coming time.
The magi were recognized and known as “king-makers” in that they often had a part in the recognition of new kings. When they would travel, they wouldn’t be a lonely and solitary group of guys traveling all alone out there. They would have traveled with an “army” or military garrison, having the full authority of the state.
Herod and Jerusalem were quite disturbed at their coming, because this could spell a lot of trouble for Israel. If another king was “to be made” (according to the magi, known as “king-makers”) — then Herod and those others in his employ and associated with Herod were in trouble. Their “status-quo” was threatened.
Herod received them because they were foreign emissaries from that adjoining country (but were not necessarily friends with Israel). This would have been a big delegation and a significant one — one big enough and important enough to be able to command an audience with King Herod.
So, Herod was very cautious about them and they were very cautious about Herod (and having been warned to not return to Herod). They also came long after Jesus was born. Jesus was in a residence by the time they arrived. And, the fact that Herod went to kill all newborns from two years and under tells us the maximum time period that they arrived, later...
These were all events that happened according to the plan of God and according to His wisdom in bringing Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, into the world for the salvation of mankind, all who accept Him as the Savior of the world...
“Daniel was given knowledge of the future by prophecies that God gave him.”
This is what confuses me. While God gave people prophetic abilities, it’s the same with Lucifer who caused women to be possessed by demons and given the ability of divination. It’s so unnerving.
I know that the prophecies Daniel had are of Christ and St. John was given the ability to write Revelations, I wonder if Lucifer had similar prophets who revealed demonic visions of the future, ie, those who would perform demonic acts within the framework of God’s will.
“And, the fact that Herod went to kill all newborns from two years and under tells us the maximum time period that they arrived, later”
So maybe they the Magi arrived when Jesus was around one or two years old instead of right after he was born. I think in that case we would have to change the nativity scene.
As for the scientific case of the Star, it reminds me of how they attempted to explain the ten plagues of Egypt.