[snerkel]

Arabia is south and east of Israel, depending on the area from which a person would travel.

I did not imply they did not see a star, I do not doubt they saw a star. In offering the verses from the OT, I am trying to show my position that they were not necessarily traveling from an eastern country, but that their origins (land of their birth) may have been an eastern country.

[xzins]

By and large it's southeast....I'll agree with that. I'm confused. Maybe we're saying the same thing.

I think I understand that you're saying either (1) that they were from one eastern country (wise men from the east), but that they were in the east in a different country (Arabia) and saw the star OR (2) That they were from the east and while in the east saw that star????

I'm not trying to be difficult. (Just imagine what I could do if I tried.)