Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 2:1

1. NOw when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the King, behold there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem.

That Ioseph the legal Father of Iesus, was of Nazareth in Galilee, appears from Luk. 2.4. where we are told that he went from thence unto the City of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the House and Lineage of David: To be taxed with Mary his espoused Wife: For it seems, so was the Emperors decree, v. 1. and Cyremus the Governour of Syria had ordered that every one should go to be taxed in his own Tribe and City; those words [of Iudea] were added to distinguish the place, from another Bethlehem, which was in the Territories of Zebulon, Ios. 19.15. the Verse further tells us, that this was in the days of Herod the King, these words [the King] are added to distinguish him from Herod the Tetrarch, Mat. 14.1. or other Herods. This was that Herod the great, commonly called the Ascalonite, the Son of Antipater, there are three Opinions of learned Men concerning him. Some think that he was by Birth an Idumean, and that his Mother was an Arabian, and say he was the first Forreigner that ever Reigned in Iudea, and that in him the Prophecy was fulfilled, Gen. 49.10. That the Scepter should not depart from Iudah till Shiloh came. Others contend that he was a Native Iew. A third sort, say he was Originally an Idumean, but that his Predecessors had for some Ages been Pro[illegible: 1 letter]elyted to the Iewish Religion: Which last Opinion is judged the most probable. Iudea was at that time subject to the Romans, whose Senate made him King over it. Christ being born at this time. It is said, There came wise Men from the East to Ierusalem. How long it was after that he was born that they came, the Scriptures tell us not. Some think they came presently, Some think within thirteen days, some think it was two years after. It is certain they were directed to find Christ at Bethlehem, v. 8.9. There he was born and Circumcised the eigth day, there his Mother accomplished the days of her Purification, according to the Law. Which days were thirty three, as may be seen Levit. 12.2, 3, &c. Luke tells us, ch. 2, 22. that after the accomplishment of those days, they brought him to Ierusalem, to present him (as their first born) to the Lord, Exod. 13.2. and to offer a Sacrifice, and he tells us, there of his meeting with Simeon and Anna and of their Prophecies, v. 25, &c. and v. 39. it is said, When they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own City Nazareth. It is not probable that these Wise Men came before our Lord was carried to Ierusalem (which was about six Weeks after he was born) for besides that they had a long Journey to come, after such a noise made by the Wise Mens coming, it is no way probable, that Ioseph and Mary would have carried him to Ierusalem. Where the enquiry was first made, especially considering Herods Trouble about it, and his sending Messingers presently to slay all the Children in Bethlehem and in all the Coasts thereof, v. 16. It is therefore most probable that it was near two years after the Birth of Christ before they came, for tho no such thing can be concluded from Herods decree, which was for the slaying those that were two year old and under, yet one would think the following words signifie some such thing, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the Wise Men. He had then made inquiry about what time this Child should be born, possibly they could not tell him the exact time; but if they said a year or a year and half before, Herod (to make sure) might make his decree for all to be slain from two years old and under, but had they said a Month or six Weeks, it is not probable Herod would have been so Barbarous as to have slain all of two years old, so as if we wisely consider the History of Scripture it is no way probable, that they came before Maries Purification was over, and their offering him to the Lord, &c. mentioned Luk. 2. but then how should they find him at Bethlehem, for he went to Nazareth, Luk. 2.39. Ans. God might order some motion of Ioseph to Bethlehem (of which the Scripture is silent) it was a City within the Tribe, to which he related where probably he had Kindred. So as, tho it were a year or more after the Birth of Chirst, before these Wise Men came, yet it is possible they might find him at Bethlehem, his Parents being as Guests there, tho Inhabitants at Nazareth. This is enough to have spoken of the time when these Wise Men came, viz. At what distance from the Birth of M[illegible: 2 letters]y, considering that nothing can be in the Case certainly determined: It is yet a greater Question, who these Wise Men were, and from what part of the World (here called the East) they came. The incertainties of mens Conclusions in their points of Curiosity, rather than profit, let us know how vainly Men search for satisfaction, when God hath hidden a thing from them. They cannot agree in the number of these men, some will have them twelve, some but three, and they undertake to tell us their Names, tho neither can they agree in it: Some will have them to be Kings, and the Papists make us believe they have their Sepulchers with them to this day at Cologne; and by the number of the Tombs they know their number, and that Church hath a Festival for them (which is our twelfth day) these and an hundred more Fables there are about them. The Scripture saith no more than Wise M[illegible: 1 letter]n, and telleth us nothing of their number, whether they were meer Astrologers, or such as were skilled in magical Arts, or more generally Philosophers, is vainly Disputed, only we have their observation of this extraordinary Star, together, with what the Scripture tells us of the use those Eastern Nations made of Astrologers, to guide us to think, they were such as were Famous in their Country, for Astrology: Tho others think them Persons skilled in Divine, and Humane Laws. The Scripture only calls them Wise Men. Whether they came from the Eastern parts of the World, or that part of the World which lay Eastward to the City of Ierusalem, is another unprofitable Question; Pagans they were without doubt, whether Persians or Arabians, or of some other Country, is of no great Concern for us to know, and almost impossible to determine. These were the first Fruits of the Gentiles owning Christ as King of the Iews, whilst he came amongst his own, and they received him not: Nor do I know any thing more worthy of our observation concerning them, those that think it worth the while to read what more is said concerning them, may read enough in Spanhem his Dub. Evang. Heinsius his exercitat. Sac and Poli Critica which I rather chuse to name than the Popish Writers, because in some of these he will find the Antidote together with the Poison of those Fabulous Discourses, and be taught a Pious wariness of obtruding old Wives Fables into Canonical History, and lightly imposing upon the Faith of ignorant People.

Marginal references: Luk. 2.6, 7.