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“We Have Seen His Star”
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were borne as an offering to Him in whom all the families of the
earth were to be blessed.
A Journey by Night
It was necessary to journey by night in order to keep the star in
view, but at every pause for rest the travelers searched the prophe-
cies. The conviction deepened that they were divinely guided. The
journey, though long, was a happy one.
They had reached the land of Israel, with Jerusalem in sight,
when, lo, the star rested above the temple. With eager steps they
pressed onward, confidently expecting the Messiah’s birth to be the
joyful burden of every tongue. But to their amazement they found
their questions called forth no joy, but rather surprise and fear, not
unmingled with contempt.
The priests extolled their religion and piety, while they de-
nounced the Greeks and Romans as sinners. The wise men were
not idolaters, and in the sight of God they stood far higher than His
professed worshipers; yet they were looked upon by the Jews as
heathen. Their eager questionings touched no chord of sympathy.
Herod’s Jealousy Aroused
The magi’s strange errand created an excitement among the
people of Jerusalem which penetrated to the palace of King Herod.
The wily Edomite was aroused at the intimation of a possible rival.
Being of alien blood, he was hated by the people; his only security
was the favor of Rome. But this new Prince had a higher claim—He
was born to the kingdom.
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Herod suspected the priests of plotting with the strangers to
excite a tumult and unseat him. Determining to thwart the scheme
by superior cunning, he summoned the priests and questioned them
in regard to the place of the Messiah’s birth.
This inquiry from the usurper of the throne, and made at the
request of strangers, stung the pride of the Jewish teachers. The
indifference with which they turned to the rolls of prophecy enraged
the jealous tyrant. He thought them trying to conceal their knowl-
edge. With an authority they dared not disregard, he commanded