The 3 wise men...
Were they the shepards in the fields
Or 3 Oriental Kings?
2007-12-10 09:17:26 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Magi or the Three Wise Men are thought by some to have been men of high position from Partha, a town near the site of the ancient Babylon.
Traditionally, there were three although the Bible doesn’t tell us how many.
They might have been Jews who knew the predictions of Old Testament scripture. They would have been descended from the Jews who stayed in Babylon centuries earlier, after the exile. (Sometime between 742 and 687 BC, the prophet Micah prophesied about the Savior being born in Bethlehem. Micah 5.)
They could have been eastern astronomers who studied ancient manuscripts. They would have had copies of Old Testament scripture in their land because of the Jewish exile. Moses wrote about a star, referring to the Messiah, around 1450 BC. Numbers 24:17
They may have been Gentiles of high position, who had received a special revelation from God directing them to the promised Savior of all men.
Some scholars say that they were each from a different land, representing the entire world bowing before Jesus.
Whoever they were, they traveled a long distance and when they found Him, they celebrated, presenting Him with gifts.
2007-12-10 09:21:43 · answer #1 · answered by My Sharona 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Wise men, most likely men who observed the night skies for signs and where of good fortune, Mystics perhaps most likely men wise in the lord such as the order of Melchizedek, Prophets of God wise men who knew what was to come and sought the messiah. Three is a nice number but I don't think its biblical. Most answers on this are speculations on this History hasn't had the last word on this. They did talk to Herod the Great the ruler of the area at the time, he was a very suspicious ruler of the time and doesn't lend much to the story so that he could diminish the rights of a successor to his thrown. We known of the gifts, gold frankincense and myrrh, three, there may have been more given the widows mite is strong in those days. The best gift was the gift of Faith and Jesus's gift to us Salvation.
2007-12-10 09:41:43 · answer #2 · answered by Kid Billy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were of the order of the magi which was setup by Daniel back in Babylon. It was based on a prophecy he received that spoke of when Messiah was to arrive in Jerusalem (the very day in fact). So he passed on the instructions to the order to watch and wait until the permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem was decreed. When that occurred, they began the countdown. When it got to within 33 years of fulfillment, the star appeared, which was the sign they needed that the King had been born. - http://ncane.com/mv6
Incidentally, there is no mention of it being just 3 wise men. It was probably more. This is implied by the three gifts given, but is not necessarily accurate as to how many wise men there were present.
2007-12-10 09:41:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Astronomers and priests who studied the sky and who watched for the Desire of the Ages because they knew the Word of God which had been prophesied that the Messiah would be coming.
Some say the star was a comet, but a more realistic answer is a host of angels banned together to make a great light or one great angel, because the star led the wise men to where baby Jesus was.
After the Tower of Babel was destroyed Noah's descendants knew the stories of Adam, Enoch and Methusaleh and that One would come to set everything right. The people scattered with different languages from Babylon, but they remembered the Desire of Ages was yet to come.
2007-12-10 09:44:44 · answer #4 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As it was told 3 kings.. But those all involved were led under conviction from God , the Father. God had to tell them where they need to go .. so did the shepards. The star was there under the watchful eye of God. He made sure there wasnt any room in the inn..He had it planned cause He is the father of Jesus. He had a plan ..and it went the way He planned it to go.
2007-12-10 16:57:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There may have been more than 3 wise men. The Bible speaks of them bringing three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. That's why Christmas cards, etc. depict three men. They came from the far east (Persia?) to Bethlehem to find Jesus and worship Him. Because they came from such a distance there would likely be more than three in their party.
2007-12-10 09:27:50 · answer #6 · answered by Shirley 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bible just says wise men and the no. 3 for gifts.
2007-12-10 09:25:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They were the "kings" but the ironic part is that no bible translation actually calls them "kings" just wise men.
See (and search) for yourself : http://blueletterbible.org/
2007-12-10 09:28:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
3 oriental kings
2007-12-10 09:20:10 · answer #9 · answered by sally 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Balthasar, Melchior, Caspar
2007-12-10 09:20:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋