“We Three Kings” is my favorite Christmas carol. However, there weren’t three of them, and they weren’t kings!

But yes, this caravan did come from the east and the Greek calls them magoi, or magicians or wizards.

But these wizards were not actually wise men, and they aren’t the heroes in the Christmas story but rather a band of ambitious bunglers, who professing to be wise men make a series of foolish mistakes that bring about bloodshed and disaster. Only afterwards do they stumble onto the truth, and are shown great grace after they fumble their mission, but are allowed to escape Herod’s wrath.

I’m very grateful to poet Rosa Lía Gilbert for her two amazing poems that she shares with us at the end of this episode! Find her brand new book of poetry, Under the Samán Tree, here.

This episode digs deeper into “magoi” (μάγοι meaning ‘magicians’) in Matthew 2:1.

Matthew 2:1 - “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.” (NIV)

Mentioned:

Rosa Lía Gilbert - Poet

“We Three Kings of Orient Are” written by John Henry Hopkins Jr.

Suetonius (Roman Historian)

Tacitus (Roman Historian)

Josephus (Hellenized Jewish Historian)

Antigonius the Hasmonean

Herod the Great

Parthian Empire and Phraates IV

Daniel’s “Prophecy of Weeks”

My Links:

Bammerhab Site: www.bammerhab.com

Bammerhab Substack: bammerhab.substack.com

SDG Morgan’s Substack: sdgmorgan.substack.com

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard for Graphic Design

• Dave Allam of Allam House for advanced audio techniques: sound.allamhouse.com

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew hypertext links

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: bammerhab.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bammerhab.substack.com