[AppyPappy]

Mary: Oh....a burial spice. How......inappropriate.
Curley: You’re welcome, toots. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I always knew that 3 wise men was just a guess.

[Da Coyote]

Is that not the plural of major, as in one major, two or more maji?

Badda bing, badda boom, couldn’t resist.

No insult whatsoever intended on the biblical reference.

[Da Coyote]

Is that not the plural of major, as in one major, two or more maji?

Badda bing, badda boom, couldn’t resist.

No insult whatsoever intended on the biblical reference.

[chajin]

But why would they have cared about anything happening in Judea, which was 500 miles across the desert and in enemy territory anyway (since the magi came from the Parthian Empire)? The only plausible answer to me is that they were descendants of the Judeans who were carried off to Babylon 500 years earlier, who were considered the best and the brightest, like Daniel and his companions. Most of the Jews in Persia did not return to Judah with Nehemiah, but they would still have kept up with the prophecies and such, and would have been looking for signs of the Messiah, just as the Judeans would, or should, have been looking.

[ealgeone]

After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they [e]fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. matthew 2:9-11

Wise men still seek Him and wise men still worship Him.

[chesley]

It has always puzzled me a little, but by anyof those definitions of the Magi, they were practitioners of occult arts.

The OT is pretty clear about its position on occultism of any sort. Just as clear as it is about idolatry, murder, adultery, and homosexual acts.

So how is it that these magicians were among the first to worship Christ? Did they thereafter repent of their practices and give them up.

I don’t expect an answer, really, but if someone has an opinion, I’d like to hear it, and the reasoning behind it.

[Faith65]

Interesting thread. Bookmarking.

[sportutegrl]

< The third, black-skinned and heavily bearded, named Balthasar. .. by his gift of myrrh testified to the Son of Man who was to die."

Token black. The idea has been around for a long time, apparently.

[Hot Tabasco]

Since they wearing turbans and riding camels, were they muslims?

[minnesota_bound]

They were a Vegas act

[Fithal the Wise]

I suspect that the prophet Daniel who was chief of the magi of his time (Dan 5:11), provided them with Messianic prophesies which were passed on and enabled the later magi to visit Bethlehem.

for more on Who were the Magi?

http://www.ldolphin.org/magi.html

[Cronos]

Well, Chajin, Magi were Zoroastrian priests/mystics. They could have been descendents of the Judeans, but they wouldn't have been practising Jews, since they were magi, so Zoroastrians they were, may be syncretic with Judaism

Condorfights's post 17 gives me pause for thought.

[Cronos]

hmmm... what about the non-Biblical history of the Jews? Before Christ?