Everyone knows the legend of the three wise men's visit to Bethlehem as
retold every Christmas. Three Arabian princes followed a star to find
baby Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. They
presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This story
has lived on over the centuries as a key part of the birth of Jesus. But
is it truly factual?
We know that the Bible is inerrant, but do we know that throughout time traditions have been added to the true Biblical story?
Myth #1: There were three wise men
We have no idea how many there were. This was assumed because three
gifts were given to Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. However, we
don’t know the quantity of those gifts, or even if Jesus was only given
one of each. There is no way to know how many.
Myth #2: They rode camels
This is a common misconception. Whenever you see movies from this time
period, the actors are riding on camels. However, people in northern
Arabia typically only rode Arabian horses. At the time of Christ’s birth
camels were used as pack animals, but wealthy travelers used the more
comfortable and swift horse.
Myth #3: They followed a miraculous star
Matthew never says that they followed a star. He says they saw a star,
which history teaches is the Northern star. The wise men were
astrologers, and the star was an astronomical sign they saw that
signified the prophecy of the Jewish king. That doesn’t mean a star led
them from Arabia to Jesus.
Myth #4: They were kings
It is unclear whether or not they were royalty, but they were not
kings. You can throw out the “We Three Kings” picture completely. They
had royal connections though, and were trusted by King Herod.
Myth #5: They came from Persia, India, and Africa
This idea was added to tradition later. They likely came from Arabia, not these other countries or diverse backgrounds.
