In this issue . . . Q: What are magi, anyway? A: Nativity scenes
around the world display them. Songs and poems have been written
about them. They are featured in movies, plays, and Sunday
school skits. They are some of the most recognizable figures in
our culture as nearly everyone has seen images of three wise men
riding on camels and following a star. Some have even gone so
far as to name these guys. The book of Matthew contains the
account of the wise men: The original meaning of mágoi is likely
in view here—wise men who interpreted special signs. There are
at least three reasons for this identification. First, they
acknowledged that they were interested in signs in the heavens.
Second, the Bible states that they were from “the East,” which
would be in the direction of Babylon and ancient Persia. Third,
of all the peoples of “the East,” the Babylonians had many
opportunities to learn of the Jewish Scriptures, which contain
multiple promises of the coming Messiah. Daniel was an
influential government offic