The Magi in Bethlehem

From where the origin of the Magi, who came to Bethlehem seeking the new born King?
No reliable tradition deals with these particular the country whence the Magi came. Justin Martyr, Tertullian and Epiphanius fancied that they came from Arabia, founding their opinion on the fact that "Gold, Frankincense and myrrh" abounded in Yemen. Justin Martyr in his book: Dialogue with Trypho (written around the year 154), says that the Magi who came from Arab lands:
And let this be a proof to you, namely, what I told you was done by the Magi from Arabia, who as soon as the Child was born came to worship Him, for even at His birth He was in possession of His power; ….

Origen held that they came from Chaldea, which is possible. But Clement of Alexandria, Diodorus of Tarsus, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, and others are probably right in bringing them from Persia. From wherever they came from, what is clear is the Magi belonged to “Goyim” (Gentiles, "non-Jewish"). If the Jews await their Messiah according to the instructions of Scripture, then goyim peoples in its own way to know God who is worshiped by the people of Israel.

So, which one is right as the origin of the Magi who came to see Jesus in Bethlehem, Arabia or Persia? Actually no need to object to about this matter, because some Arab tribes (like the Jews), have been settled in the Persian Gulf region for a long time. In subsequent periods, quite a lot of Arab tribes in the Persian Gulf are then converted to Christianity. In the Assyrian tradition says that the Magi “were apparently Aramaic speaking, they could had come only from the kingdom of Urhai or Edessa.” If this is true then it makes sense when these wise men came to the Israeli-Palestinian territory, they can communicate well with local people because they also use Aramaic in daily life, language is also used by Jesus. Kingdom of Edessa, according to Roman sources included in the classification of "the tribes of Arabia." This can be known from Roman historical sources mention that the last king, King of Edessa Abgar V Uchomo reigned in the region called "ho tes Arabias phularxos" ("including local Arab tribes").

Thus, we need not look too far to the South as the origin of the Magi, but in the East (in accordance with the instructions of Scripture) in the North Arabian region around the Persian Gulf. Icons painting on the walls of the early Church indicate the type of clothing and headgear used by the Magi; resemble clothing worn by people of ancient Persia. There are local stories stating that when the Il-Khan Empire in the Persian converts to Islam, they do not destroy churches, that there is an icon painting of the Magi on the walls because they feel these iconic paintings are paintings of their ancestors.

While on their innate (gift) that "gold, frankincense and myrrh", do not have to go far to the south (Yemen) to obtain these items because at that time the Arab kingdom Nabataea, is a bustling place of commerce, so the Magi they can buy gold, frankincense and myrrh in Arabia Petraea (Nabataea), before entering the territory of Israel-Palestine. That the Magi came from Arab countries were in line with the offerings they bring gold, frankincense and myrrh (cf. Ezekiel 27:22, Jeremiah 6:20). Judging from the Biblical events, the Magi from Arabia showed that children Ishmael also participated in the banquet Messiah, judging from the offerings they bring it, “…they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of the LORD” (Isaiah 60:6).

Merry Christmas 2010 and Happy New Year 2011 to you all. God bless you.

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ

2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. "
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. (Micah 5:2-3)

The Birth of Jesus Christ of Mary in Bethlehem was not a coincidence of events, because the Torah, Psalms and the Book of Prophets over the centuries have foretold His coming. This belief is not a bouquet of Christians because it has proved the existence of the Jewish expectation of the coming Messiah, who will be born from the city of the ancient King of Israel.

In Micah 5:2-3, quoted above, Micah just recalling the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the coming of a Messiah, who will be born by a girl (עלמה 'almah) and will hold a עמּנוּאל 'immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). In his prophecy, Micah mentions clearly that the birthplace of the Messiah who was to come to Bethlehem Ephrata. Bethlehem (which means "house of bread"), is a city in Judah, the birthplace of King David (1 Samuel 16:4, Luke 2:11). The city is well known as the place of Rachel's tomb, the wife of Jacob the ancestors of Israel (Jeremiah 31:15, Luke 2:18).

The birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem was also confirmed in the writings of Jewish Rabbis before Christ, among others, Targum, Pirqe d'rabbi Eliezer, and the Rabbis later. While the commentary to "whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" וּמוֹצאתיו מקּדם מימי עוֹלם umotsataiu miqedem mimmei ‘olam, according to Targum Aramaic refers to the pre-existence of the Messiah. In the Mishnah states that as the incarnation Memra (Word of God) then "The Messiah existed before all creation."

In the Gospel of Luke says that the angels give glad tidings to the shepherds in the fields of Ephrata, that the Messiah had just been born in the city of David. If we use the Peshitta as a reference then Luke 2:11 is as follows:
ܐܶܬ݂ܺܝܠܶܕ݂ ܠܟ݂ܽܘܢ ܓ݁ܶܝܪ ܝܰܘܡܳܢܳܐ ܦ݁ܳܪܽܘܩܳܐ ܕ݁ܺܐܝܬ݂ܰܘܗ݈ܝ ܡܳܪܝܳܐ ܡܫܺܝܚܳܐ ܒ݁ܰܡܕ݂ܺܝܢ݈ܬ݁ܶܗ ܕ݁ܕ݂ܰܘܺܝܕ݂
‘Itiled lekon ge’ir yaumana Faruqa, di tauhi Marya Mashiha ba m’dintah d’Dawid.
for there is born for you to-day the Redeemer, who is the Lord the Meshicha, in the city of David.

Use of Peshitta above, are as language approach of the events that occurred in Bethlehem Ephrathah, where in the region ± 2000 years ago Aramaic / Syriac is the language of daily life. From the text we can see that title in Mar (Lord) used for Christ, was also used in Midrash Tehilim 110 applied to the King Messiah who will come. Degree: Marya Mashiha (Messiah the Lord) is also found in extra-canonical Jewish writings of the Psalms of Solomon 5:36, written about 50 years before the birth of Jesus.