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Song: We three kings of orient are
1. Song: We three kings of orient are
The Christmas song "
We three kings" was written by John Henry Hopkins, Jr., from
Williamsport, PA, in 1857. There's gold, frankincense, but wait, there's
myrrh!
1. All: We three kings of Orient are; ...
2: King 1: ... Gold I bring to crown Him again, ... (king)
3: King 2: Frankincense to offer have I; ... (priest)
4: King 3: Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume ... (burial)
5: All: King and God and sacrifice;
There are some factual issues with the words to the song.
They were not "kings".
We do not know if there were exactly "three".
They were not from the "orient".
2. Verse 1
We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
*It is not known that there were three.
*They were magi, not kings.
*They were not from the Orient.
3. We three kings of orient are
Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, [kjv]
2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. [kjv]
Who are the "
wise men"?
From where came the "
wise men"?
John saw Mary with the telescope. Who has the telescope?
The wise men saw the star in the east. Were the wise men looking east or west?
[language ambiguity, Magi, Daniel, Parthians, Masada, Herod's army]
4. Matthew 2:1
KJV: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Greek: του δε ιησου γεννηθεντος εν βηθλεεμ της ιουδαιας εν ημεραις ηρωδου του βασιλεως ιδου μαγοι απο ανατολων παρεγενοντο εις ιεροσολυμα
5. Matthew 2:2
KJV: Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Greek: λεγοντες που εστιν ο τεχθεις βασιλευς των ιουδαιων ειδομεν γαρ αυτου τον αστερα εν τη ανατολη και ηλθομεν προσκυνησαι αυτω
6. Coming from afar
If you go to the deep "
south", you may see nativity scenes where the three kings are wearing fire helmets (since they were coming from afar).
The "
orient" meant the "
east" since, at that time and place, maps were "
oriented" with "
east" at the top. Later the maps were rotated so that "
north" was at the top.
7. Matthew 2:1-7 Herod the Great and Parthia
The
Parthians were from an area in what had been
Persia that took control from the
Medes and the
Persians (
Elamites) centered around
Babylon in the area of
Mesopotamia.
Judea, ruled by Herod from 37 to 4 BC with his own army, was a
buffer state between Rome and Parthia and aligned with Rome.
[Rome, other fronts][Parthian shot]
Rome was not known for gratuitous killing - especially of future slaves, servants, taxpayers, etc.
There would have been few, if any, Roman soldiers in Judea at the time of the birth of Christ. Rome moved in after Herod's death. At the crucifixion, some 30 years later, there would have been many Roman soldiers in Judea. They would have been "
second string" soldiers (and commanders) as the best soldiers (and commanders) were in Britain, in Gaul (France), and Asia Minor (Turkey).
Herod had an army that would do anything ordered, such as killing infants in Bethlehem. See
The Army of Herod the Great. Osprey Publishing. 2009.
8. Accurate parts of the song
Some parts of the song are correct.
What were they following?
What did they bring?
What were the gifts?
What does each gift represent?
How were these gifts used? How did God provide in this story?
9. Target of journey
What were they following? They were following the star. They were from the east. They were traveling to a star that appeared in the west.
How did the wise men rate the inn where Mary and Joseph were staying?
It was the best 1-star hotel they every saw.
10. Matthew 2:7 The appearance of the star
Matthew 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. [kjv]
τοτε ηρωδης λαθρα καλεσας τους μαγους ηκριβωσεν παρ αυτων τον χρονον του φαινομενου αστερος [gnt]
… magis … apparuit … [v]
Because Herod assumed the star appeared when the baby was born, many others since then have made the same assumption. This assumption requires the Magi to arrive much later in the story.
[
magistrate]
11. Matthew 2:11 Gifts at Christmas
Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. [kjv]
The gifts were, gold, frankincense, but wait, there's myrrh!
Lets not rap (wrap) the gifts yet.
[flight to Egypt]
12. God provides
Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. [kjv]
How did God provided for Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus?
13. Matthew 2:13
KJV: And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Greek: αναχωρησαντων δε αυτων ιδου αγγελος κυριου φαινεται κατ οναρ τω ιωσηφ λεγων εγερθεις παραλαβε το παιδιον και την μητερα αυτου και φευγε εις αιγυπτον και ισθι εκει εως αν ειπω σοι μελλει γαρ ηρωδης ζητειν το παιδιον του απολεσαι αυτο
14. Verse 2
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
15. Verse 3
Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshiping God Most High.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
16. Verse 4
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
17. Verse 5
Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia!, Alleluia!,
Earth to Heaven replies.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
18. End of page
