Who Were The Magi?
From Chuck Missler’s 12.2005 eNews
Each
year as we approach the holiday season, our preparations for
Christmas include revisiting the events surrounding the birth of Our
Lord. Bethlehem, the shepherds, and the angels are all familiar to
us. But not much is generally known about the mysterious Magi who
came to worship the infant Jesus.
Most of what we associate
with the Magi is from early church traditions. They are called
"Magi" from the Latinized form of the Greek word
magoi,
transliterated from the Persian for a select sect of priests. (Our
word "magic" comes from the same root.) Most have assumed that there
were three Magi. However the Bible mentions only that there were
three
gifts, it
does not say how many
men
came to worship Jesus.
As the years passed,
traditions became increasingly embellished. By the third century,
they were viewed as kings. By the sixth century they had names:
Bithisarea, Melichior, and Gathaspa. Some even associated them with
Shem, Ham and Japheth, the three sons of Noah, and thus with Asia,
Africa, and Europe. A fourteenth century Armenian tradition
identifies them as Balthasar, King of Arabia; Melchior, King of
Persia; and Gasper, King of India.
The Priesthood of the Medes
The ancient Magi were a
hereditary priesthood of the Medes credited with profound and
extraordinary religious knowledge. After some Magi, who had been
attached to the Median court, proved to be expert in the
interpretation of dreams, Darius the Great established them over the
state religion of Persia.
It was in this dual capacity
whereby civil and political counsel was invested with religious
authority, that the Magi became the supreme priestly caste of the
Persian Empire, and continued to be prominent during the subsequent
Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian periods.
The Role of Daniel
One of the titles given to
Daniel was Rab-mag, the Chief of the Magi. His unusual career
included being a principal administrator in two world empires: the
Babylonian and the subsequent Persian Empire. When Darius appointed
him, a Jew, over the previously hereditary Median priesthood, the
resulting repercussions resulted in the plots leading to the lion's
den.
Living six centuries before
the birth of Christ, Daniel was given an incredible number of
Messianic prophecies. In addition to several overviews of Gentile
world history, the Angel Gabriel told him the precise day that Jesus
would present Himself as King to Jerusalem. Daniel apparently
entrusted the Magi with a messianic vision (to be announced in due
time by the appearance of a star).
The Entourage to Jerusalem
The sudden appearance of the
Magi certainly alarmed Herod and the populace of Jerusalem. They
were probably traveling in force, with every imaginable oriental
pomp, and accompanied by adequate cavalry escort to insure their
safe penetration of Roman territory. It would seem to Herod as if
these Magi were attempting to perpetrate a border incident, which
could bring swift reprisal from Parthian armies. Their request of
Herod regarding the one "who has been born King of the Jews" was a
calculated insult to him, a non-Jew who had contrived and bribed his
way into that office. Consulting his scribes, Herod discovered from
the prophecies in the Tanach (the Old Testament) that the Promised
One, the Messiah, would be born in Bethlehem. Hiding his concern and
expressing sincere interest, Herod requested them to keep him
informed. After finding the babe and presenting their prophetic
gifts, the Magi "being warned in a dream" departed to their own
country, ignoring Herod's request.
The gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh were also prophetic, speaking of our Lord's
offices of king, priest, and savior. Gold speaks of His kingship;
frankincense was a spice used in the priestly duties; and myrrh was
an embalming ointment signifying His death. In the millennium, He
will also receive the gifts of gold and frankincense; but no myrrh.
His death was once and for all.
|