The Wise Men bring Trouble to Jerusalem

Searching for the Wise Men

• Christmas Wise men – The Wise still Seek the Savior
• The Irony of the Wise Men
• The Wise Men bring Trouble to Jerusalem
• The Wise Men’s dream leads to the Gospel

The Magi guests only brought trouble to Jerusalem, which encouraged the Jewish priests to ignore the most important news in history. Let’s consider how these Wise Men brought trouble.

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, ‘Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ ³ When Herod the King heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.” Matt. 2:1-4

Why was Jerusalem troubled? Why did the Jewish priests not go to find the birth of their Messiah? When the Magi (Persian Wise Men) appeared, the people of Jerusalem became distraught. Let’s explore a bit of the historical background to understand better why such a visit promoted trouble.  

Parthian History with Jerusalem

The historic events near 40 B.C. triggered fear in Matthew 2 because the Parthian Empire controlled all of Israel, Jordan, and most of Syria for about three years. Josephus, the well-known ancient Jewish historian, mentioned that the Parthian (Persian) empire allied with the priestly family of the Hasmoneans. The Parthians and Antigonus, the High Priest, took over Jerusalem and chased away a potential ruler, later known as Herod the Great, to flee to Rome. Then, in response, Antony encouraged the Roman senate to declare Herod “The King of the Jews” to gain an advantage in this struggle with Parthia.^[1] Flavius Josephus and William Whiston, The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987), 564-565.

Eventually, Ptolemy, a Roman general, chased the Parthian empire out of Judea so Herod could come to power. Herod struggled for three years after Rome declared him “King of the Jews” before re-entering Jerusalem. When Herod captured Jerusalem through Gaius Sosius, they chained Antigonus and brought him to Antony in Antioch.^[2] James C. VanderKam. From Joshua to Caiaphas, Augsburg Fortress, Kindle, 2004 location 6541 History says that Herod executed him for this alliance. Now, the scene resurrected ominous fears that history will repeat.

Herod now faced a challenge by this foreign entourage who declared their desire to worship the baby born as the “King of the Jews.” Their words cast a potential political homage. The caravan of wise Persian men entered the city, renewing an atmosphere of timidity in interacting with the Parthian Empire. A good summary of the Parthian Empire can be found here. They did not come as representatives of the Empire, but most likely, this possibility crossed the minds of those who looked upon their arrival.

Religious Background

The Magi, as Persian priests, come asking the paranoid, power-crazed King of the Jews, where is the baby born King of the Jews? Herod called on the Jewish religious establishment. For the past 35 years, he attempted to remain closely aligned with him to maintain their influence. Herod knew previously the High Priests had formed an alliance with Parthia and could bring them into the conversation to check their commitment. The Wise Men’s question promoted turmoil in the city, especially for the religious establishment. The historical situation will show how Herod attempted to align with the religious establishment to gain acceptance. In his relationships with the High Priests, the Wise Men did not bring trouble, but he did.

Near 37 B.C. Rome helps Herod come to power in Judea, and then he marries the High Priest’s family to consolidate power. He married Mariamne I, Antigonus’ niece, whom he had betrothed five years earlier.^[3]Josephus, J. W. 1.17, 8  [344] When we examine the different high priests over the reign of Herod, we see how they aligned their fates. They give us insights into why the chief priests became passive to the birth of Christ.

High Priests During Herod the Great’s Reign

High Priest during the reign of Herod the Great (39 B.C. to 4 B.C) ^[4]Josephus, Flavius, and William Whiston. The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987.  ^[5]James C. VanderKam. From Joshua to Caiaphas, Augsburg Fortress, Kindle, 2004

Antigonus (40 – 37 B.C.) Proclaimed King and High Priest by the Parthian rulers, then later executed by Herod. A concern of Herod during this period was that if Antigonus had a chance to appeal to the Roman senate concerning his Jewish lineage, this event could expose Herod’s lack of heritage, so Herod, with the help of Mark Anthony, eliminated him.  

Ananel (37-35 B.C., then later reappointed 35-30?) – Herod brought him from Babylon (Parthian empire) to avoid appointing a known Hasmonean-connected family priest. Josephus labels this priest as “undistinguished,” so he had no influence or connection in Judea. Nevertheless, Ananel was appointed and removed by Herod.

Aristobulus III (35 B.C.) This High Priest was the last of the Hasmonean priests. Herod appointed him at the urging of Herod’s wife (Mariamne I), the high priest’s sister. Josephus said Herod instructed the Gauls to kill him when he traveled to Jericho.

Jesus, son of Phabes [Fabus] (30? To nearly 23 B.C.)  Appointed and removed by Herod.

Simon, son of Boethus (near 23 B.C. to  5 B.C. )  His appointment occurred when Herod married Simon’s daughter, Mariamne II. Near to 5 B.C.. With Herod’s wife, Simon was privy to an assassination plot, so Herod removed him and divorced Mariamne II.

Matthias Son of Theophilus (5-4 B.C.) He was appointed by Herod but accused of encouraging his disciples to tear down an eagle that Herod erected as a votive offering. His time as High Priest was relatively short.

Joazar Son of Boethus (4 B.C. to 6 A.D.) – Appointed by Herod before the King’s death.

Matthew’s gospel records events that occurred near 5-4 B.C. Simon, the High Priest, was most likely just removed along with his daughter, Herod’s wife. Then Herod appointed Matthias only to release him quickly. So, in light of this, when Herod called in the chief priests and scribes, these things brought trouble from these Wise Men. The recent power plays and upheaval created quite a sense of discouragement for the Jewish leaders. Those near these events would be hesitant to defy Herod or even move to discover the birth event in Bethlehem. Their concern for their positions persuaded them to ignore the most significant birth in Jewish history.

Political Turmoil

The Parthian threat and the religious turmoil were not the only concerns for the city; political chaos also fumed. Herod’s eldest son, Antipater II, the rightful heir to his rule, participated in a political plot of disloyalty near this time. Just two years before (7 B.C.) Herod put his sons Alexander and Aristobulus to death for treason. However, Antipater II, as the heir apparent, had more clout. Hence, his case needed a thorough Roman investigation, so Herod’s son sat in prison near Jerusalem, awaiting the verdict.

The question of the rightful King dominated the political scene, and Herod imprisoned the expected heir out of paranoia. So when the Magi show up asking where the “King of the Jews” was born, a heightened natural fear arises.

Here, the political King of the Jews who just placed his son in prison is confronted by the Magi with another potential fully Jewish rival. For these reasons, the city of Jerusalem anxiously fears further paranoid actions of Herod the Great, sensing that the Wise Men brought trouble to their situation.

Warren Wiersbe said, “The Magi were seeking the King; Herod was opposing the King; and the Jewish priests were ignoring the King.” ^[6] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 14. Along with the Jewish priests, the whole city had ominous reasons for concern.  

Now we saw how the Wise Men brought trouble, let’s consider how their dream lead them to the Gospel.

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