Who Were the Magi?

     The gospel stories in Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-23 championed the early church’s claim Jesus of Nazareth was born at Bethlehem and the rightful heir of Abraham as the promised Jewish Messiah. Because much of Jesus’ childhood, youth and early adult years were spent at Nazareth, there were those inside and outside of the early church who questioned or denied his Messiahship (Matthew 2:23, 4:12-16, 28:16-20).

     While biblical scholars place the homeland of the Magi at Babylon or Saudi Arabia, Matthew 2:1-12, 16 described a region known as Anatolia - the East, an ancient name for Asia Minor or central Turkey (Matthew 2:1).[1] The Magi were court astrologers commissioned by the Sovereign Antiochus I who ruled the Kingdom of Commagene from 70 BCE to 30 BCE. These Magi were active at the ancient astronomical observatory until around 70 CE when the Roman Emperor Vespasian forcibly annexed the kingdom into the Roman Empire. The Magi had an excellent view of eastern, southern and western skies on an ancient, dormant volcanic peak. The ancient ruins at Nemrut Dağ are today what remain of the astronomical observatory where the Magi conducted their “observances” or observations.[2] 

     An early Christian leader, Origin suggested that the Magi were familiar with ancient prophecies taken from the Old Testament. Particularly, the Book of Numbers 24:17 stated “A Star shall arise out of Jacob and a Scepter out of Israel.” This prophecy otherwise known as the Balaam Prophecies was a reference to the astrological birth constellation of Jacob, the grandchild of Abraham and Sarah. The second part was an astrological reference to a zodiacal constellation representing the twelve tribes of the ancient Hebrew people. The mysterious Star mentioned in the prophecy was one of the wandering stars or unaided eye planets. This Old Testament prophecy implied that the Jewish Messiah would be born at Jerusalem. According to Origin, the Balaam Prophecies described the birth of the Jewish Messiah at Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1-12).[3]

     Instead of embedding Numbers 24:17 in Matthew 2:4-6, the author included a prophecy from the Old Testament book of Micah 5:2, “In Bethlehem of Judaea; “For thus it is written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem land of Judah by no means least are among the rulers of Judah. Out of you for will go forth One leading who will shepherd my people Israel.” By mentioning the Old Testament Micah prophecy and remaining silent about the Old Testament prophecy from Numbers 24:17, the author implied that the Magi made a critical error in their choice of prophecy and an astrological alignment of wandering stars which appeared along the Ecliptic in one of the Zodiacal constellations (Matthew 2:1-2). When the Magi did not find the Jewish Messiah at Jerusalem, the question, “Where is he born King of the Jews? For we have seen his Star in the East” (Matthew 2:2) morphed into a rumor which reached Herod’s court. Why did the Magi not identify Herod’s offspring as the Jewish Messiah? Herod was not of pure Jewish descent. He was of Edomite descent but was raised as a Jew. The Roman Senate‘s support of Herod the Great in 40 BCE and in 37 BCE allowed him to capture and ascend to the throne at Jerusalem. The Magi arrived around the time of the Jewish Passover (April 20/21st, 5 BCE). Such a rumor would not only cause unrest among Herod’s court but also those from the Jewish Temple and the merchant class. All of Jerusalem benefited financially from Jewish pilgrims who came to celebrate the Passover (Matthew 2:3). The author included the Old Testament prophecy from Micah (Matthew 2:4-6) to correct the Magi’s error as well as support the claim that Jesus was born at Bethlehem as the Jewish Messiah and not a Nazareth.

[1] Bacon, Benjamin, Studies in Matthew, 1930, New York: Henry Holt & Co. p. 36, 181. Bacon, a New Testament scholar and professor at Harvard University during the early 1900’s in his book, “Studies in Matthew” stated that the back story for Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18 originated at Edessa, Mesopotamia, a city state that bordered the Kingdom of Commagene.

[2] Crijins, Maurice, CIMRM 32, Inscriptions on Throne-backs, Nemrut Dağ, International Nemrud Foundation, September 1999. “The group of magicians I have chosen for the purpose and those who may later be consecrated, their sons and daughters, and also their descendants shall all learn the same art and be free from the burden of every other responsibility and they are to devote themselves to the observances which I have established to the end and without any evasion are to continue their services as long as the assembly requests it. No one, no king or ruler, no priest or official shall ever make slaves of the hierodules, whom I have in accordance with the divine will, consecrated to the gods and to my own honor, or their children or the descendants of their children, who shall continue their family to all later time; he shall neither enslave them to himself nor alienate them to anyone else in any way, nor injure one of them, nor deprive him of this ministry, but the priest shall take care of them, and the kings, officials and private person shall stand by them, and the favor of the gods and heroes will be laid up for them as a reward for their piety” (Inscription on Throne Back Tablet - King Antiochus I, Theos of Commagene)

[3] Origen, “Homilien zum Hexateuch in Rufins Obersetzung,” ed. Bachrens, Homilies on Numbers translated by Rufinus of Aquileia. Edited Bachrens [GCS] Vol. 2, 118.14-22) (Homily 13:7) “Si enim prophetiae eius a Moyse sacris insertae sunt voluminibus, quanto magis descriptae sunt ab his, qui habitabant tunc Mesoptamiam, apud quos magnificus habebatur Balaam quosque atis eius constat fuisse discipulos? Ex illo denique fertur magorum genus et institutio in partibus Orientis vigere, qui descripta habentes apud se omnia, quae prophetaverat Balaam, etiam hoc habuerunt scriptum quod: "orietur stella ex Iacob, et exsurget homo ex Israhel." Haec scripta habebant magi apud semet ipsos et ideo, quando natus est Iesus, agnoverunt stellam et intellexerunt adimpleri prophetiam.” "If Balaam's prophecies were included in Moses sacred volumes, how much more were they described by various authors who lived at that time in Mesopotamia, with whom Balaam was held in high esteem and were well known and practiced Balaam's craft as his students or disciples. It is further reported that a priesthood of Magi who followed after him came from the East, which treasured all of that which Balaam had foretold, even the fact that Balaam had written, ‘A star shall arise out of Jacob and a scepter out of Israel.’ (Numbers 24:17) The Magi had agreed through their writings with one another, that when Jesus was born, they acknowledged the Star and understood that the prophecy had been fulfilled. Based on Balaam’s writings, when the time was near, to demonstrate their faith, they went and paid homage and venerated Jesus as a King.” (author’s translation)