Why did King Herod send the Magi to Bethlehem?
King Herod sends Magi (wise men) to visit baby Jesus in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1 – 2:12) After Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, Magi (wise men) from the East arrived in (five miles north of ) asking King Herod where the baby “king of the Jews” was located.
Why did Herod send the wise men to kill the baby?
When word reached Herod that the wise men were looking for this new king, he sent for them and urged them to find the child so he could worship him too. But Herod was lying. His real goal was to destroy the child, fearing illogically that in time, Jesus would take over his throne.
Why did Herod kill so many children in Bethlehem?
He even went as far as killing members of his own family because he thought they were plotting against him. God warned the wise men of Herod’s plot in a dream, so they found Jesus and gave him gifts and did not return to Herod. After Herod realized they had evaded him, he ordered the death of every child in Bethlehem below the age of two.
What did the wise men bring to Jesus in Bethlehem?
Wise men from the East came to worship Jesus, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Some time later, wise men, or magi, from eastern countries saw a star in the sky that signaled the birth of a new king. They came to Judea, the region around Jerusalem and Bethlehem, to worship Jesus, the new king.
What did the Magi do when they found Jesus?
When they discovered Jesus with his mother Mary, they were overjoyed and bowed to the new king. They presented Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Rather than return to Herod to report Jesus’ location, the Magi returned to their own country using a different route. They had been warned against returning to Herod in a dream.
Who were the Magi and what did they bring?
The Magi were educated in Bactria (modern Afghanistan) and sent out as missionaries. Visits from the Magi were a time of celebration. They often brought new sciences and ways of building. The Magi began at a time when Zarathustra’s people were still nomads, violently raiding villages.
What happened to Joseph and Mary after the birth of Jesus?
There is some indication that they may have arrived quite some time after the birth of Jesus. The words used to describe baby Jesus call him a “child” rather than an “infant”. Also, although Joseph and Mary were still in Bethlehem, Matthew 2:11 clearly indicates that they were now in a house and not a stable.