Who Were The Magi? An Intriguing Look Behind the Star

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
— Matthew 2:1–3

For most Christians, our image of the Magi has been shaped by medieval art: three solitary kings riding camels following a glowing star. But Matthew’s Gospel presents a very different — and far more dramatic — scene.

Three Solitary Kings?
Matthew never tells us there were three Magi. He does not call them kings. And he never says they rode camels.

What Matthew does tell us is that Magi came from the East — likely Babylon or Persia, more than 700 miles from Jerusalem. These were not merely scholars or philosophers. In the ancient world, Magi were wealthy, elite advisers to kings, men whose knowledge of the heavens, mathematics, and sacred texts shaped political decisions and royal succession. They were widely regarded as king-makers, whose endorsement could legitimize a ruler’s reign.

Men of this rank and influence would never have traveled alone. They would have journeyed with a substantial entourage — armed guards for protection, servants to manage camp life on the long journey, pack animals carrying provisions, and treasures of immense value, suitable for one they believed to be a mighty King.

Early Christian art found in the Roman catacombs depicts the Magi in Persian-style clothing — practical riding garments combined with rich outer robes, and sometimes shown with horses. Only centuries later did Western art begin portraying them as crowned kings on camels. This shift was inspired by Isaiah’s prophecy: “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:3).

Eastern Christian tradition even spoke of twelve Magi. The number three eventually became standard in the Western Church simply because three gifts are mentioned in scripture.

Did the Magi Ride Camels?
Camels were valued as beasts of burden, not prestigious riding mounts. They excelled at carrying heavy loads for long distances across the desert. But wealthy elite travelers rode horses.

By the first century, Arabian horses were highly prized in Babylon and Persia for their endurance, speed, and beauty. Wealthy, powerful, and urgently seeking the newborn Messiah, the Magi and their guards would almost certainly have ridden horses. Camels would have carried their supplies, while their servants likely rode camels or mules.

In Judea, most people traveled on foot or by donkey as horses were expensive and difficult to maintain. So the arrival of a large, well-equipped entourage riding horses would have commanded everyone's attention.

All Jerusalem Was Troubled
Jerusalem was accustomed to crowds. As the capital of Israel and the site of the Temple, it buzzed with citizens, pilgrims, merchants, animals for sacrifice, and Roman soldiers. And yet, Matthew tells us that when the Magi arrived, the entire city noticed and was troubled.

The Magi’s caravan formed a striking procession as they entered Jerusalem – horses ridden by eastern dignitaries wearing lavish Persian garb, protected by armed guards, camels laden with supplies and precious gifts, and an array of servants. They were boldly asking, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” In a city under Roman occupation and ruled by a paranoid, violent king, those words were dangerous.

Herod was not a legitimate Jewish king. He had been appointed by the occupying Romans. His father was an Edomite, forcibly converted to Judaism. Though he rebuilt the Temple and outwardly observed Jewish customs, Herod was ruthless in protecting his throne — even executing two of his own sons, along with priests and teachers of Jewish law. A foreign delegation confidently proclaiming the birth of a new “King of the Jews” was a direct threat to his already precarious power.

How Did the Magi Know?
The Magi were not watching the heavens by chance. Ancient sources and modern astronomical studies suggest that Jupiter — the planet associated with kingship — passed through the constellation Virgo, a sign closely linked in Jewish expectation with the coming Messiah. The new star that appeared did not behave like a normal star, but moved with purpose as a guide – echoing how God once led His people through the wilderness as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of flame by night.

But the key question remains: how did Gentile scholars know to watch at all?

Daniel: The Bridge Between Israel and the Magi
The answer lies centuries earlier, with the Jewish prophet Daniel. He lived after Isaiah and Micah and knew their prophecies: that the Messiah would come from David’s line, born of a virgin, in Bethlehem. Taken captive to Babylon, Daniel rose to extraordinary prominence and was placed over all the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 2:48).

When Daniel miraculously emerged unharmed from the lions’ den, King Darius was overjoyed and issued a decree for his entire empire: “In every part of my kingdom, people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end...”
— Daniel 6:20–26

This dramatic miracle did not merely convince the king. It validated Daniel’s God before the entire court — including the wise men under his authority. The God of Israel had proven Himself supreme.

Daniel did more than interpret dreams. His teachings shaped generations of Gentile scholars about Israel’s God and entrusted them with a prophetic expectation: the Messiah was coming.

Most importantly, Daniel was given a timeline — the prophecy of the seventy weeks. In biblical language, these “weeks” were not seven days, but sets of seven years, pointing 490 years into the future. From a decree to restore Jerusalem, Daniel’s timeline stretched forward with remarkable precision toward the very era in which Jesus was born. Those trained in Daniel’s writings knew the prophetic clock was nearing its end. The Magi were watching both the heavens and the calendar.

Worship and Gifts
When the Magi finally reached Jesus, they did more than offer expensive gifts to honor a king. “They fell down and worshiped Him” (Matthew 2:11). Gold acknowledged His kingship. Frankincense, used in temple worship, proclaimed His divinity and priesthood. Myrrh pointed ahead to suffering and sacrifice.

These were not randomly chosen treasures. They were deliberate, theological gifts — a profession that this Child was King, Priest, and Redeemer.

The Magi were also spiritually attentive. Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they chose a longer, more difficult route home rather than endanger the Child.

Soon after the Magi's entourage left, Joseph was asleep when an angel appeared to him in a dream telling him: “Get up! Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” Joseph got up and immediately fled during the night with Mary and Jesus to Egypt, fulfilling the prophecy: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

The Magi disappear quietly from Scripture, but their witness remains. They stand as the first Gentiles to recognize that the promised Messiah would come to save not only the Jews, but all the people of the world.

Through Daniel, the Magi knew Isaiah's prophecy: “It is too small a thing for you... to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” – Isaiah 49:6