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RUSSELL SANDERS
12-19-2021
CHRISTMAS MYTHS – LESSON 3
THE WISEMEN PART 2
We do not know how many wisemen made the trip to Israel. The Catholic church claims three because only the three most expensive gifts are mentioned, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Painted scenes only show three wisemen mounted on camels. This is fictitious.
Since seeing the star caused quite a stir in Chaldea, there surely must have been several Magi in the caravan. These wealthy men would have brought along a few servants to assist and protect them. There were surely many other gifts as well, not just three since they were for a new “king.”
It most likely took some time to put this all together. The journey was a long one. Food would have to be prepared along the way, plus tents had to be pitched at nighttime. There is no way they could have arrived while the baby and parents were still in the sheepfold as you see in some manger scenes. By the time they arrived Joseph had found housing for them. Perhaps a relative took them in.
The arrival of the Chaldean (Babylonian) caravan in Jerusalem caused somewhat of a stir. They were brought to King Herod where they informed him that a great king had been born in Israel. The priests and scribes ascertained from the scriptures that a king was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 4:8 and 5:2).
When the Magi’s caravan arrived in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-12), the star appeared and stood over the particular house where the young child was staying. They opened their treasures and presented them to honor the “king.”
Did God speak supernaturally to these wisemen? Yes, through a dream, God instructed them to avoid Herod and leave a different way. These wisemen were the only recorded people outside of the Bethlehem area that were directly informed by God of Jesus’ birth. What was so special about them so as to be privileged in that way? It has to do with the bloodline. They, alone out of the whole world were of the same blood as the Israelites. Not even the other parts of Babylon had Chaldean blood.
Where was Abraham born and raised? It was in the City of Ur in Chaldea. Although ancient Chaldeans were known to have spiritual understanding and guidance, God chose to call out Abram from among them in order to reveal Himself in a more excellent and personal manner. He would establish a people uniquely called to Jehovah and through them would reveal the Elect One (Jesus) to the whole world.
Abraham and Sarah were of pure Chaldean blood, as was Isaac, and Rebekkah. Jacob, Leah, and Rachel were of pure Chaldean blood as also were their eight children. The four sons of Jacob’s concubines were at least half Chaldean, and possibly full-blooded as well.
The Chaldeans were the ancestors of the Israelites, the sons of Abraham. That is why it is so appropriate that God showed them the birth of Jesus through the stars.
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