We Three Kings of Orient Come
Star of Wonder Star of Glory. This is a very popular song at Christmas time (but it makes my skin crawl). But this song is not biblical. The true Light of Wonder or Light of Glory is lying in a manger. That is the least of this songs problems, it encompasses more Tradition than Fact.
First, "We" should not be used to indicate we come to see the Christ Child. We know that he has died and is risen from the Dead. This feast of Christmas is for the celebration of his Holy Incarnation. The Feast of Epiphany is also used to celebrate the Light of Christ not his coming. But this may be splitting heirs.
Second, there is no place in scripture that indicates there are "Three Wise Men." These men are thought to bring 3 gifts. Therefore, tradition has given them 3 names. But even this part of the text could read "Presented him with gifts: gold and incense and myrrh" or "Presented him with gifts, gold, incense, and myrrh." The second reading indicates a possibility of more gifts not listed. But even if they only brought 3 gifts, there could have been two who brought Gold and three men who brought myrrh which would give at least 5 men if not more. Don't put asside the guy who lost his olive oil in the desert on the journey.
There is no clear indication how many men made the journey. There is no way to properly discern their names. Though sometime during the Middle Ages they were given Names. These Names are Babylonian names. They are similar to the names given to Daniel and his co-horts in Babylon.
Third, These so called "Kings" may be rich but they would definitely get beheaded if they called themselves "Kings" or maybe thrown into a lion's den. They are called Magi in the text. This could indicate Court Magicians or Astrologers. Some like to call them Wise Men because in Daniel the Wise Men who were brought to interpret the King's dreams were called Magi. These would definitely fall into the category of Scientific Men of the Modern Age.
They could be Magicians thinking back to Pharaoh and Moses. The Magicians try to preform the plagues with their Magic Arts (Witchcraft). These Magicians would indicate a turning around of things.
They could be Astrologers who study the stars. If they were from Babylon they might have Biblical texts pointing to the Birth of the Anointed one. They may see the connection between Cyrus being the Anointed one and this new born King of the Jews. But again there is no positive evidence for either of these.
Fourth, where in the World is the Orient? When I think of the Orient it is China or India or possibly the Pacific Islands. If this is the case why not just make them Native Americans. There is no indication of how far they traveled other than he time indicated by the Killing of the Holy Innocents.
The text says two years or under. Now if Herod was quick to learn he had been tricked by the Magi. The star would have appeared roughly two years ago. If the Magi had left immediately upon seeing the star, you can conclude they traveled about 2 years. But if Herod was not quick to figure things out, he could have pushed the age to make sure he got all the potential Children.
The Outside time would be 1 to 2 years of age for the Christ Child. Now if the Magi took a couple of months to plan their Journey to Jerusalem, it could have been a shorter travel time. They might have needed to gather some maps. Maybe they had to go Christmas shopping to get their incense and myrrh. Therefore, the Magi could have been any where from 6 months to 22 months of a journey from Jerusalem/Bethlehem.
The text does not indicate where, just the direction. They do not indicate their method of transportation. The time it would take to get from the Far East say China or India to Jerusalem may fall within this time frame depending on what method of Transportation. But there is a safe assumption they did not come from the Orient.
The Magi are not Kings nor are there three of them and they did not come from the Orient. Now the Song does have a nice tune to it. And it would be fun to sing if the words did not teach Biblical falsehoods. Therefore, I recommend another version I received which follows.
We Poor Magi haven't a clue
Where to go or what to do;
We're not sages,
But through the ages
The Stories and legends grew.
Refrain
Oh… We're not wise men, we're not kings,
To the child these gifts we bring:
Gold and incense,
Myrrh- it's nonsense
To make much of these three things.
Gaspar, Melchior, Balthazar-
Not our names, but best guess thus far;
Our vocations-
Court magicians
And we like to follow stars.
Refrain
We show up in King Herod's land,
We're so dumb we fall for his plan;
But an angel
Warns of danger
So we pick up and scram
Refrain
God loves even magi like us.
Though the route was circuitous,
He provided
Ways that guided
Us to our King: Jesus
Refrain
First, "We" should not be used to indicate we come to see the Christ Child. We know that he has died and is risen from the Dead. This feast of Christmas is for the celebration of his Holy Incarnation. The Feast of Epiphany is also used to celebrate the Light of Christ not his coming. But this may be splitting heirs.
Second, there is no place in scripture that indicates there are "Three Wise Men." These men are thought to bring 3 gifts. Therefore, tradition has given them 3 names. But even this part of the text could read "Presented him with gifts: gold and incense and myrrh" or "Presented him with gifts, gold, incense, and myrrh." The second reading indicates a possibility of more gifts not listed. But even if they only brought 3 gifts, there could have been two who brought Gold and three men who brought myrrh which would give at least 5 men if not more. Don't put asside the guy who lost his olive oil in the desert on the journey.
There is no clear indication how many men made the journey. There is no way to properly discern their names. Though sometime during the Middle Ages they were given Names. These Names are Babylonian names. They are similar to the names given to Daniel and his co-horts in Babylon.
Third, These so called "Kings" may be rich but they would definitely get beheaded if they called themselves "Kings" or maybe thrown into a lion's den. They are called Magi in the text. This could indicate Court Magicians or Astrologers. Some like to call them Wise Men because in Daniel the Wise Men who were brought to interpret the King's dreams were called Magi. These would definitely fall into the category of Scientific Men of the Modern Age.
They could be Magicians thinking back to Pharaoh and Moses. The Magicians try to preform the plagues with their Magic Arts (Witchcraft). These Magicians would indicate a turning around of things.
They could be Astrologers who study the stars. If they were from Babylon they might have Biblical texts pointing to the Birth of the Anointed one. They may see the connection between Cyrus being the Anointed one and this new born King of the Jews. But again there is no positive evidence for either of these.
Fourth, where in the World is the Orient? When I think of the Orient it is China or India or possibly the Pacific Islands. If this is the case why not just make them Native Americans. There is no indication of how far they traveled other than he time indicated by the Killing of the Holy Innocents.
The text says two years or under. Now if Herod was quick to learn he had been tricked by the Magi. The star would have appeared roughly two years ago. If the Magi had left immediately upon seeing the star, you can conclude they traveled about 2 years. But if Herod was not quick to figure things out, he could have pushed the age to make sure he got all the potential Children.
The Outside time would be 1 to 2 years of age for the Christ Child. Now if the Magi took a couple of months to plan their Journey to Jerusalem, it could have been a shorter travel time. They might have needed to gather some maps. Maybe they had to go Christmas shopping to get their incense and myrrh. Therefore, the Magi could have been any where from 6 months to 22 months of a journey from Jerusalem/Bethlehem.
The text does not indicate where, just the direction. They do not indicate their method of transportation. The time it would take to get from the Far East say China or India to Jerusalem may fall within this time frame depending on what method of Transportation. But there is a safe assumption they did not come from the Orient.
The Magi are not Kings nor are there three of them and they did not come from the Orient. Now the Song does have a nice tune to it. And it would be fun to sing if the words did not teach Biblical falsehoods. Therefore, I recommend another version I received which follows.
We Poor Magi haven't a clue
Where to go or what to do;
We're not sages,
But through the ages
The Stories and legends grew.
Refrain
Oh… We're not wise men, we're not kings,
To the child these gifts we bring:
Gold and incense,
Myrrh- it's nonsense
To make much of these three things.
Gaspar, Melchior, Balthazar-
Not our names, but best guess thus far;
Our vocations-
Court magicians
And we like to follow stars.
Refrain
We show up in King Herod's land,
We're so dumb we fall for his plan;
But an angel
Warns of danger
So we pick up and scram
Refrain
God loves even magi like us.
Though the route was circuitous,
He provided
Ways that guided
Us to our King: Jesus
Refrain
Comments
Post a Comment