Christians worldwide celebrate Christmas today, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who was born approximately 4 B.C. in the town of Bethlehem, five miles east of Jerusalem, in the nation of Israel.
Four gospel accounts in the Bible provide many of the details surrounding the birth of Jesus, including stories of extraordinary and supernatural events coupled with more broadly known historical details.
One is the visit of the magi – or “wise men” – in the months following Jesus’ birth. Tradition says they were three in number, but in reality, the Bible does not specify their names or number, nor which country east of Israel they came from.
From the Gospel according to Matthew:
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, 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.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They hold him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herold, they departed to their own country by another way.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called me son.”
—Matthew 2:1–15.
Ken Klukowski is a Breitbart News senior contributor.
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