Posted on 12/23/2004 11:06:04 PM PST by freedom44
Magi (Majusian)
From old Persian language, a priest of Zarathustra (Zoroaster). The Bible gives us the direction, East and the legend states that the wise men were from Persia (Iran) - Balthasar, Melchior, Caspar - thus being priests of Zarathustra religion, the mages. Obviously the pilgrimage had some religious significance for these men, otherwise they would not have taken the trouble and risk of travelling so far. But what was it? An astrological phenomenon, the Star?
Matthew 2:1 - "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi [*] from the east came to Jerusalem." (* Footnote: Traditionally Wise Men). Matthew 2:7 - Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. Matthew 2:16 - When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, was erected in 329 by Queen Helena in the area it was believed to be where Jesus was born. In 614, The Church was saved from destruction by the Persian rampage because of the mosaic of the Magi dressed in Persian Garb on the floor of this church.
Magi, priestly caste in ancient Persia. They are thought to have been followers of Zoroaster, the Persian teacher and prophet, and they professed the doctrines of Zoroastrianism. By the 1st century AD, the magi were identified with wise men and soothsayers. Encarta Concise Encyclopedia - Religion & Philosophy.
The hint that they can be astrologers is that "we have seen his star in the east". Although they saw the star in the east, they traveled west.
The hint that they were expecting something to look for is from "and are come to worship him.". Simply seeing something unusual wouldn't create a desire to worship, however expecting something to occur and regularly watching the sky and waiting for it would be natural for someone waiting for someone to worship.
.......They were all Jewish/Hebrews!
..................................................The were NOT Reformed or Conservative,....but ORTHODOX!
Micah 5:2
Merry Christmas!........................Messiah-mas!
(Romans 10:17)
"And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also."
1) There is not indication that the Magi were on the same timeline as the "shepards." Most likely they were not. Quite the contrary, they apparently did not find the child in Bethlehem, but much, much later at His "house" in Nazareth (Matt. 2:11, which does not say "manger," or "inn," or "stable," but "house.") That is "where the Child was." It does not say that at that time the holy family was still in Bethlehem, and another clue is the subtle change in the wording from Luke 2:12, which says that the shepards would find the "Babe"---not "young Child"---"lying in a manger"---not in a "house."
Further evidence is that Mary could not be present at Jesus' purification ceremony for 40 days, and they were in Jerusalem for that ceremony, meaning it was at minimum 40 days after the birth that the holy family was in Jerusalem, not Bethtlehem, THEN immediately went to Nazareth (Luke 2:39) where the Magi finally caught up to them at Joseph's "house." THEN they fled to Egypt, which explains why Herod had to kill all CHILDREN (not "babes") two years and under, because he did the math and figured out it had been two years since he sent the Magi to Bethlehem and then they had skeedaddled.
I am convinced of the time lapse as you pointed out, just not he extant of the time.
You might be right, the Bible is silent of just how long a lapse there was, but we can agree there sure was one! :)
I thought the 2 year and younger slaughter was based on when the Wise Men journey would have begun to when they found Herod.
I am intrigued by the thought that the Magi may have been zoroastrians, as I am intrigued by the fact that Cyrus was referred to by the hebrew writers as "righteous" in a way that foreigners usually were not.
I am also intrigued by the possibility of cross-fertilization between the hebrews and the zoroasters which may have occurred as a result of the babylonian exile.
This is an embellishment. Zoroaster means 'seed of Aster,' the harlot wife of Nimrod, or in other words Tammuz (or Osiris if you prefer). This is the basis of all pagan worship throughout history; The 'goddess and god' of nature worship.
No 'star' is mentioned in the word; it says that they saw his sign, which is the shekinah. No mystery, no astrology, no magic. So simple that the world hates it.
Amen!
BTTT
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.