Who were the Wisemen from the East?


Note: The following is based on Star still rising over Islam by Dwight K. Nelson.


Where did the wise men come from?

Matthew 2:1, 2 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, 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.


Where did Abraham send the sons of his concubines away from Isaac his son?

Genesis 25:1-6 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. 3and Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

Note: these boys are just as much the sons of Abraham’s as are Isaac and Ishmael.


Where really is the East?

Scholars note that in both the OT and NT, the “east” is dominantly linked with the Arabian Desert in the Transjordan.


Who are children of the 'East' Hall of Fame?

Job 1:1-3 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Did you know that Job was an Arab, not a son of Isaac? So who else?

Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian [Arabia]: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

Numbers 22:8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

Note: Clearly, God did preserve His true worship among the sons of Ishmael and the children of the East.


But aren’t these “wisemen from the East” magicians?

Yes, the Greek word for wisemen is magoi, or “magi” the root of “magician.”


Are all magicians bad? Is it bad to be a magician? Do you know what Daniel is called?

Daniel 4:9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

Note: These magicians were possessors or users of supernatural knowledge. They dealt with the Eternal One, Yahweh. They were truly wise men.


How wise were the wisemen from the east? Was Solomon even wiser than the Children of the east?

I Kings 4:30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

Note: This means the children of east were really wise.


Were the wisemen well versed with the scriptures? Did they really study the prophesies of Isaiah 60:1-6 and Numbers 24:17?

Isaiah 60:1-6: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian [Arabia] and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.

Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.


Did they really study the scriptures and were they looking forward to the fulfillment of the prophesy? Notice:

Matthew 2: 1-2, 11 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, 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. 11And 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.


Yes! A stunning prediction! This is 600 years before Christ. A light would arise one day in the darkness over Jerusalem and that the kings or wisemen from Arabia [Abraham's descendents] would be attracted to that brightness and they would bring gold and incense in their search for the glory of the Lord.