why didn't they know to go to Bethlehem?
The star lead them to Jerusalem, maybe that is where the star stopped.
but The star did later showed them the rest of the way.
9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw
in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
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Herod first found out about the birth, it was from the wise men, not his scribes.
God must of had a plain to fulfill the old prophets saying.
15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Herod got this information from priests and scribes,
yes they had the scriptures, a Jewish community subordent to the roman empire.
we know what Jesus said about the priests and scribes , they where not called wise.
If they where they would have seen the star themselves and told herod about it first.
all they could do was quote scripture after fact- Matthew 2:6 (KJV) Micah 5:2 (KJV)
5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda:
for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
and sent the travelers there
- so these magi didn't have the scriptures?
but they followed a star.
They followed a star that God lead them, the star would have been overhead.
in [verse 12] says they lived in another country, they would not know the area.
does the bible say anyone else even seen the star?
16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men,..from two years
old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
how old was Jesus when they arrived,
how far away did they have to travel, did it take 2 years?
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2Saying, 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.
How did the wise men know Micah 5:2 ?, they [must have had] scriptures.
how did they know it was this star that stood for the king of the Jews?
they came to worship the new king, and bring presents. an Israel tradation.
could "the term magi" just mean they knew Astronomy ?
if they where magicians[bad] would the star been revieled to them?
Astronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena.
It applies mathematics, physics, and chemistry, in an effort to explain the
origin of those objects and phenomena and their evolution
Abraham was A Scientist, Astronomer, Mathematician—and Father of Nations
We do not know much about these wise men.
We do not even know how many there was.
the bible says they where wise men from the east.
at the time of Jesus, the lost ten tribes where scattered abroud[not local residents].
the decendents of both the northern and sothern tribes had Levites in them.
so [my guess] would be they where decendent to the Levites, from scattered tribes.