The Star and the Wise Men
A Children's Bible Story
For some time after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary stayed with him in Bethlehem. The
little baby was not kept long in the stable sleeping in a manger; for after a few days they
found room in a house; and there another visit was made to Jesus by strange men from a
land far away.
In a country east of Judea, and many miles distant, were living some very wise men who
studied the stars. One night they saw a strange star shining in the sky, and in some way they
learned that the coming of this star meant that a king was soon to be born in the land of
Judea. These men felt a call of God to go to Judea, far to the west of their own home, and
there to see this new-born king. They took a long journey, with camels and horses, and at
last they came to, the land of Judea, just at the time when Jesus was born at Bethlehem. As
soon as they were in Judea, they supposed that every one would know all about the king,
and they said:
"Where is he that is born king of the Jews? In the east we have seen his star, and we have
come to worship him."
little baby was not kept long in the stable sleeping in a manger; for after a few days they
found room in a house; and there another visit was made to Jesus by strange men from a
land far away.
In a country east of Judea, and many miles distant, were living some very wise men who
studied the stars. One night they saw a strange star shining in the sky, and in some way they
learned that the coming of this star meant that a king was soon to be born in the land of
Judea. These men felt a call of God to go to Judea, far to the west of their own home, and
there to see this new-born king. They took a long journey, with camels and horses, and at
last they came to, the land of Judea, just at the time when Jesus was born at Bethlehem. As
soon as they were in Judea, they supposed that every one would know all about the king,
and they said:
"Where is he that is born king of the Jews? In the east we have seen his star, and we have
come to worship him."
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THE SHEPHERDS IN THE FIELD--"And there were in the
same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their
flock by night.... And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord.'"--(Luke 2: 8-10-11.)
same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their
flock by night.... And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord.'"--(Luke 2: 8-10-11.)
But no one of whom they asked had ever seen this king, or had heard of him. The news of
their coming was sent to Herod the king, who was now a very old man. He ruled the land of
Judea, as you know, under the emperor at Rome, Augustus Caesar. Herod was a very wicked
man, and when he heard of some one born to be a king, he feared that he might lose his own
kingdom. He made up his mind to kill this new king.
He sent for the priests and scribes, the men who studied and taught the books of the Old
Testament, and asked them about this Christ for whom all the people were looking. He said:
"Can you tell me where Christ, the king of Israel, is to be born?" They looked at the books of
the prophets, and then they said: "He is to be born in Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written
by the prophet, 'And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah are not the least among the princes
of Judah; for out of thee shall come forth one who shall rule my people Israel.'"
Then Herod sent for the wise men from the east, and met them alone, and found from them
at what time the star was first seen. Then he said to them:
"Go to Bethlehem; and there search carefully for the little child; and when you have found
him, bring me word again, so that I also may come and worship him."
their coming was sent to Herod the king, who was now a very old man. He ruled the land of
Judea, as you know, under the emperor at Rome, Augustus Caesar. Herod was a very wicked
man, and when he heard of some one born to be a king, he feared that he might lose his own
kingdom. He made up his mind to kill this new king.
He sent for the priests and scribes, the men who studied and taught the books of the Old
Testament, and asked them about this Christ for whom all the people were looking. He said:
"Can you tell me where Christ, the king of Israel, is to be born?" They looked at the books of
the prophets, and then they said: "He is to be born in Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written
by the prophet, 'And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah are not the least among the princes
of Judah; for out of thee shall come forth one who shall rule my people Israel.'"
Then Herod sent for the wise men from the east, and met them alone, and found from them
at what time the star was first seen. Then he said to them:
"Go to Bethlehem; and there search carefully for the little child; and when you have found
him, bring me word again, so that I also may come and worship him."
The wise men went their way
Then the wise men went on their way toward Bethlehem; and suddenly they saw the star again
shining upon the road before them. At this they were glad, and followed the star until it led
them to the very house where the little child was. They came in, and there they saw the little
one,
with Mary, its mother. They knew at once that this was the king; and they fell down on their
faces and worshipped him as the Lord. Then they brought out gifts of gold and precious
perfumes, frankincense and myrrh, which were used in offering sacrifices; and they gave
them as presents to the royal child.
That night God sent a dream to the wise men, telling them not to go back to Herod, but to go
home at once to their own land by another way. They obeyed the Lord, and found another
road to their own country without passing through Jerusalem where Herod was living. So
Herod could not
learn from those men who the child was that was born to be a king.
And very soon after these wise men had gone away, the Lord sent another dream to Joseph,
the husband of Mary. He saw an angel, who spoke to him, saying:
"Rise up quickly; take the little child and his mother, and go down to the land of Egypt, for
Herod will try to find the child to kill him."
Then at once Joseph rose up in the night, without waiting even for the morning. He took his
wife and her baby, and quietly and quickly went with them down to Egypt, which was on the
southwest of Judea. There they all stayed in safety, as long as the wicked king Herod lived,
which was not many months.
King Herod waited for the wise men to come back to him from their visit to Bethlehem; but he
soon found that they had gone to their home without bringing to him any word. Then Herod
was very angry. He sent out his soldiers to Bethlehem. They came, and by the cruel king's
command
they seized all the little children in Bethlehem who were three years old, or younger, and killed
them all. What a cry went up to God from the mothers in Bethlehem, as their children were
torn from their arms and slain!
shining upon the road before them. At this they were glad, and followed the star until it led
them to the very house where the little child was. They came in, and there they saw the little
one,
with Mary, its mother. They knew at once that this was the king; and they fell down on their
faces and worshipped him as the Lord. Then they brought out gifts of gold and precious
perfumes, frankincense and myrrh, which were used in offering sacrifices; and they gave
them as presents to the royal child.
That night God sent a dream to the wise men, telling them not to go back to Herod, but to go
home at once to their own land by another way. They obeyed the Lord, and found another
road to their own country without passing through Jerusalem where Herod was living. So
Herod could not
learn from those men who the child was that was born to be a king.
And very soon after these wise men had gone away, the Lord sent another dream to Joseph,
the husband of Mary. He saw an angel, who spoke to him, saying:
"Rise up quickly; take the little child and his mother, and go down to the land of Egypt, for
Herod will try to find the child to kill him."
Then at once Joseph rose up in the night, without waiting even for the morning. He took his
wife and her baby, and quietly and quickly went with them down to Egypt, which was on the
southwest of Judea. There they all stayed in safety, as long as the wicked king Herod lived,
which was not many months.
King Herod waited for the wise men to come back to him from their visit to Bethlehem; but he
soon found that they had gone to their home without bringing to him any word. Then Herod
was very angry. He sent out his soldiers to Bethlehem. They came, and by the cruel king's
command
they seized all the little children in Bethlehem who were three years old, or younger, and killed
them all. What a cry went up to God from the mothers in Bethlehem, as their children were
torn from their arms and slain!
But all this time, the child Jesus whom
they were seeking was safe with his
mother in the land of Egypt.
Soon after this king Herod died, a very
old man, cruel to the last. Then the angel
of the Lord came again and spoke to
Joseph in a dream, saying:
"You may now take the young child
back to his own land, for the king who
sought to kill him is dead."
Then Joseph took his wife and the little
child Jesus, and started to go again to
the land of Judea. Perhaps it was his
thought to go again to Bethlehem, the
city of David, and there bring up the
child. But he heard that in that part of
the land Archelaus, a son of Herod, was
now ruling, and who was as wicked and
cruel as his father.
they were seeking was safe with his
mother in the land of Egypt.
Soon after this king Herod died, a very
old man, cruel to the last. Then the angel
of the Lord came again and spoke to
Joseph in a dream, saying:
"You may now take the young child
back to his own land, for the king who
sought to kill him is dead."
Then Joseph took his wife and the little
child Jesus, and started to go again to
the land of Judea. Perhaps it was his
thought to go again to Bethlehem, the
city of David, and there bring up the
child. But he heard that in that part of
the land Archelaus, a son of Herod, was
now ruling, and who was as wicked and
cruel as his father.
| He took his wife and baby and went down to Egypt |
He feared to go under Archelaus' rule, and instead took his wife and the child to Nazareth,
which had been his own home and that of Mary his wife before the child was born. Nazareth
was in the part of the land called Galilee, which at that time was ruled by another son of king
Herod, a king named Herod Antipas. He was not a good man, but was not so cruel nor bloody
as his wicked father had been.
So again Joseph the carpenter and Mary his wife were living in Nazareth. And there they
stayed for many years while Jesus was growing up. Jesus was not the only child in their
house, and he had many other playmates among the boys of Nazareth.
which had been his own home and that of Mary his wife before the child was born. Nazareth
was in the part of the land called Galilee, which at that time was ruled by another son of king
Herod, a king named Herod Antipas. He was not a good man, but was not so cruel nor bloody
as his wicked father had been.
So again Joseph the carpenter and Mary his wife were living in Nazareth. And there they
stayed for many years while Jesus was growing up. Jesus was not the only child in their
house, and he had many other playmates among the boys of Nazareth.
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