The text of the Gospel, indeed, does not state that there were exactly three wise men. Only the three gifts that they brought to the Infant Jesus indirectly testify in favor of such an assumption...
The text of the Gospel, indeed, does not state that there were exactly three wise men. Only the three gifts that they brought to the Infant Jesus indirectly testify in favor of such an assumption. Therefore, this fact belongs to what is called the "Tradition of the Church," meaning that the majority of Christians have held this opinion for a long time. In writing, this opinion was recorded quite late, and precisely as a component of tradition.
Christian traditions, which record secondary information of no essential significance, are partially confirmed and partially refuted by historical data. Frequently, we can trace the time a tradition emerged and link it to specific religious, psychological, and historical reasons. In other cases, traditions go back to written extra-Gospel sources of great antiquity. Christians attach varying degrees of significance to these diverse sources. Some report facts that the majority consider reliable, while others are the sheer fabrication of an idle mind. The fact is that in the early Middle Ages (and later), an entire folklore existed among us, responding to people's interest in details of Gospel history that are non-essential from a religious point of view.
The accounts of tradition can be accepted or not accepted—faith undergoes no changes because of this. You will agree that how many wise men there were is completely unimportant. It must be said, by the way, that while the New Testament is very precise in details (where it records them), in most cases it passes over such non-decisive details in silence, since its authors did not have the task of describing everyday life. But if extra-biblical details do not seem entirely implausible, then there are no serious grounds to reject them. Well, practically everyone has always thought there were three wise men... Well, let it be three: when we die, we will know for certain.
As for the supposition that there were about fifty of them—this seems highly improbable: Herod, who was perpetually fearful of a conspiracy, would not have conversed with such a large group of foreigners...
2
2:1 Bethlehem of Judea - There was another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulon. In the days of Herod - commonly called Herod the Great, born at Ascalon. The sceptre was now on the point of departing from Judah. Among his sons were Archelaus, mentioned Mat 2:22; Herod Antipas, mentioned Mat 14:1; etc , and Philip, mentioned Luk 3:19.Herod Agrippa, mentioned Act 12:1; etc , was his grandson.Wise men - The first fruits of the Gentiles. Probably they were Gentile philosophers, who, through the Divine assistance, had improved their knowledge of nature, as a means of leading to the knowledge of the one true God. Nor is it unreasonable to suppose, that God had favoured them with some extraordinary revelations of himself, as he did Melchisedec, Job, and several others, who were not of the family of Abraham; to which he never intended absolutely to confine his favours. The title given them in the original was anciently given to all philosophers, or men of learning; those particularly who were curious in examining the works of nature, and observing the motions of the heavenly bodies. From the east - So Arabia is frequently called in Scripture.It lay to the east of Judea, and was famous for gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We have seen his star - Undoubtedly they had before heard Balaam's prophecy. And probably when they saw this unusual star, it was revealed to them that this prophecy was fulfilled.In the east - That is, while we were in the east.
2:2 To do him homage - To pay him that honour, by bowing to the earth before him, which the eastern nations used to pay to their monarchs.
2:4 The chief priests - That is, not only the high priest and his deputy, with those who formerly had borne that office: but also the chief man in each of those twenty - four courses, into which the body of priests were divided, Ch1 24:6-19. The scribes were those whose peculiar business it was to explain the Scriptures to the people. They were the public preachers, or expounders of the law of Moses. Whence the chief of them were called doctors of the law.
2:6 Thou art in nowise the least among the princes of Judah - That is, among the cities belonging to the princes or heads of thousands in Judah. When this and several other quotations from the Old Testament are compared with the original, it plainly appears, the apostles did not always think it necessary exactly to transcribe the passages they cited, but contented themselves with giving the general sense, though with some diversity of language. The words of Micah, which we render, Though thou be little, may be rendered, Art thou little? And then the difference which seems to be here between the prophet and the evangelist vanishes away. Mic 5:2.
2:8 And if ye find him, bring me word - Probably Herod did not believe he was born; otherwise would not so suspicious a prince have tried to make sure work at once?
2:10 Seeing the star - Standing over where the child was.
2:11 They presented to him gifts - It was customary to offer some present to any eminent person whom they visited. And so it is, as travellers observe, in the eastern countries to this day.Gold, frankincense, and myrrh - Probably these were the best things their country afforded; and the presents ordinarily made to great persons. This was a most seasonable, providential assistance for a longand expensive journey into Egypt, a country where they were entirely strangers, and were to stay for a considerable time.