Did the Three Wise Men come from Yemen, or Arabia?

A sixth-century fresco depicting the magi commissioned by Emperor Justinian at the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy (Public domain)

‘Of astronomy plotting

the sixth sense astrologers’ improvised journey…

Of the night sky as a precision grid reference 

Of veneration Of a far-fetched prophecy…’

Nuanced lines from a longer poetic Christmas meditation, ‘Homeless Miracle’ – by poet, song-writer, onetime BBC Radio broadcaster, and friend of Israel – Stewart Henderson. His prescient poetry about the ancient “improvised journey” and “far fetched prophecy” got me further thinking about the Magi.

The Gospel records of Jesus’ birth places him… in Bethlehem, Judea, which the Romans brutally colonised, later derogatorily renaming it Palestina.  (Jewish Virtual Library – Roman Rule 63BC – 313 CE – see sources below)

The pro-Palestinians unverified semiotics haven’t yet tried to make any incredulous or bizarre claims that the Three Wise Men were ‘keffiyeh’ wearing warriors from Yemen! Give them time, give them time…Such surreal scenarios might well be next Christmas’ Palestinian revisionism, along with the zeitgeist of “Free Palestine” Christmas tree baubles! Puh-leeze!

Now let’s zoom in on the origins of the Magi through the crystal clear lens of Judeo-Christian scholarly heritage and biblical scripture.

Who were they? 

The Greek word ‘Magi’ indicates these men were astrologers and interpreters of omens. These men are referred to in the Book of Daniel, who was put in charge of the court astrologers, priests and diviners, by the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar. In a side note: the Magi practiced divination – which the Torah condemns (Deuteronomy 18:9–14; Isaiah 47:13)

‘There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners’. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/search=Daniel%205%3A10%2D12&version=NIV

Where did they come from?

Might the Magi have travelled from Persia, modern day Iran? Another, albeit less popular, theory is that they came from….Yemen! That country once had gold mines and also had tree plantations of ‘Boswellia’ and ‘Commiphora’ – the same trees used to produce frankincense and myrrh. Tradition states that the Wise Men most likely were from the ancient Arabian kingdom of Sheba.

Why did they travel from Arabia to Bethlehem?

As scholars, the Magi were engaged in the complex processes of recognizing and interpreting the signs in the heavens. On the basis of omens, commentaries consulted and discussions among themselves, they came to a consensus to make their historic pilgrimage to homage:

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/search=Matthew%202%3A1%2D3&version=NIV

What did they bring to the babe, king-to-be?

Gold – representing wealth and power – is interpreted as a sign of Jesus’s high divine status. Frankincense – was used as incense in worship and represented divinity. Myrrh was a painkiller and embalming ointment for the dead. Theorists suggest the latter symbolized mortality and suffering; motifs that would become important in the later life of Jesus.

Christians celebrate those magnificent Magi, who paid attention to their prescient dreams once again, and defied Herod’s imperious command to reveal where the Bethlehem babe was born. Scripture scholars will realize that the saving of baby Jesus echoes the Exodus narrative of Moses’ birth and survival.

I end with Stewart Henderson’s complete Advent poem. I just love how the poet captures the subversive, creative genius of G-d’s biblical strategy for Jews and Christians. Read how the author echoes the hopes and dreams of  מָשִׁיחַ  mashiach: the Anointed one, Messiah – who overcomes all ancient and modern obstacles that attempt to thwart His eternal plans.

Homeless Miracle

These are the puzzling chronicles,

the baffling annals of… the homeless miracle,

Of the suckling refugee parting the cosmic ocean

between the Firmament and the shepherds’ fallow fields,

just by being born

Of the no scan available

to record the unsafe, irradiant essence

in Mary’s gossamer, inner temple

Of astronomy plotting

the sixth sense astrologers’ improvised journey

Of their mendacious welcome

into the clammy, scheming presence

Of a hushed-speech, plausible child murderer

Of ridiculous, apposite premonition gifts

Of an interventionist dream

Of the subconscious forewarning Of Herod’s imminent infanticide,

and Of him furiously not knowing

the exact location Of the prodigy

Of the night sky as a precision grid reference

Of veneration Of a far-fetched prophecy

and the necessary fleeing from cow pat glory

Of the permanence still, in our fleeting days

Of resonance with a lost crib,

Of the safe house within…the homeless miracle…

…Chronicles and annals of the unlikely and outlandish,

Of the perpetual…

Copyright © Stewart Henderson October 2024

used with permission of author. https://www.stewart-henderson.com/about/

Stewart Henderson poems on YouTube:

https://www.stewart-henderson.com/poems/

Carol Henderson writer, broadcaster and apprentice iconographer.

https://www.stewart-henderson.com/carol-henderson/

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Sources for blog:

https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/christmas-nativity-story-three-wise-men-who-were

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/roman-rule-63bce-313ce

https://tyndalehouse.com/explore/articles/magi/

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/do-we-know-the-three-wise-mens-names-in-the-bible.html