Every December, nativity scenes around the world show the Magi kneeling beside a baby in a manger. However, according to the Book of Matthew, the wise men (called Magi in Greek) did not arrive the night Yeshua was born. Matthew 2:1 says, “After Yeshua was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.” The word after is key. These travelers came from far away, likely from Parthia, a powerful empire east of Judea. The distance from Parthia to Jerusalem was roughly 1,200 miles (about 1,900 kilometers), depending on the route taken. Crossing mountains, deserts, and river valleys, such a journey could have taken several months each way.
Who Were the Wise Men?
The wise men were not kings but scholars and kingmakers from the east, most likely from the Parthian Empire, which covered much of modern Iran and Iraq. In Parthia, they were members of a respected priestly tribe devoted to the study of religious texts, science, and the heavens. Unlike pagan astrologers who practiced fortune-telling, the Magi studied biblical astronomy, observing the movements of the stars and planets as signs of God’s creation and His plan of redemption, known as the Mazzaroth. Many Bible scholars believe they may have been familiar with the prophecies of Daniel, who once served in Babylon and foretold the coming of the Messiah (Daniel 9:25).
The Parthian and Roman Empires
At the time of Yeshua’s birth, the Parthian and Roman empires were rivals. Rome controlled Judea through King Herod, while Parthia ruled the lands to the east. Only a few decades earlier, the two powers had fought wars over territory in Syria and Mesopotamia. For this reason, the sudden appearance of a Parthian caravan in Jerusalem caused alarm. Matthew 2:3 says that “when King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” A delegation of foreign nobles from a rival empire, traveling with armed escorts and bringing royal gifts, would have stirred both fear and curiosity.
King Herod’s Fear
The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus described King Herod as a ruler suspicious of his rivals and very protective of his throne (Antiquities of the Jews, 17.2.4). His loyalty to Rome and fear of losing power led him to act violently toward anyone he saw as a threat, even members of his own family. Josephus also recorded earlier conflicts between Parthia and Rome, noting that Parthian forces once invaded Judea around 40 B.C., driving Herod into exile (Antiquities, 14.13.1). This may explain why Herod and the people of Jerusalem were “troubled” when a delegation from the east appeared asking about a newborn “King of the Jews.” To Herod, the Magi’s question may have sounded like the beginning of another Parthian-backed challenge to Roman rule.
When Was Yeshua Really Born?
After questioning the Magi, Herod ordered the death of all boys in Bethlehem two years old and under (Matthew 2:16), suggesting Yeshua may have been born up to two years earlier. Many Bible scholars believe He was not born in December but during the Fall Feasts, likely around the Feast of Trumpets, when Israel awaited the announcement of the coming King. Help your children discover the true biblical story of Yeshua’s birth with The Birth of the King Activity Book. Click below to learn more!
