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Prophecy is fulfilled when the Magi meet King Herod
Chapter 9: The Magi meet King Herod the Great who inadvertently fulfils Biblical Prophecy
Matthew chapter 2 is an incredible passage of scripture. After the birth of Jesus the Messiah, Gentiles from the east came to honour Him with gifts and worship. On route they encounter Herod, an Edomite who attempted to contravene scripture for personal gain. Yahweh uses this wicked ruler to build the temple and facilitate the fulfilment of other prophecies.
These Gentile gift bearers ‘were not kings, but Magi, magicians or possibly Zoroastrian wise men from Persia whose knowledge of the Hebrew scriptures could be traced back to the time of Daniel. (Dan 5:11) (1) It is amazing how Yahweh uses pagan astrologers to pay honour and tribute to His Son and to fulfil further prophecy via them too. Psalm 72 verse 10 says ‘The kings of Tarshish and of the Isles will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba will bring gifts'. Referring to Jesus the Morning Star and the star that led the magi it was written ‘I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' (1sa 49v6) and in Isaiah 60 verse 3 ‘The Gentiles shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.'
It is no mere coincidence that the magi visit Herod the Great before they meet the Messiah. ‘The star does not lead the wise men from their own country to Judea. It pleased God to present this testimony to Herod and to the leaders of the people. Having been directed by the word (the meaning of which was declared by the chief priests and the scribes themselves and according to which Herod sent them to Bethlehem) they again see the star which they had seen in their own country, which conducts them to the house.' (2)
The magi enquired of Herod ‘Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.' (Matt 2v2) It is noticeable that the magi recognise the star as belonging to the Messiah. It is likely that they were familiar with the Numbers 24 verse 17 prophecy concerning Balaam, who was himself a pagan involved in magic arts. Contrary to his attempts to curse Israel, Yahweh ensures that Balaam is only able to prophesy a blessing on Israel. ‘I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A sceptre shall arise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.' Wesley comments ‘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 this star - Undoubtedly they had heard Balaam's prophecy. And probably when they saw this unusual star, it was revealed to them that the prophecy was fulfilled. In the east - That is, while we where in the east.' (3)
The account of Matthew 2 should be interpreted literally, not as an incredulous event dressed in allegory as some modern, liberal commentators may suggest. The events recorded verify scripture and fulfil prophecy, and evidence from independent sources also concurs. ‘the fact of a comparable visit by eastern magi to Nero in AD 66 (Dio Cassius 63.7;Seutonius, Nero 13) vouches for the probability of this story rather than otherwise. It may perhaps be added that a church which soon found itself in serious conflict with astrology is not likely to have invented a story which seems to favour it.' (4)
The magi's question regarding the king of the Jews greatly troubled Herod. ‘Though technically Jewish by birth, since his family were born from the Imdudeans (Edomites), who had been forcibly converted to Judaism under the Hasmonean Macabees in the second century B.C.E (see 23:15n) neither his religious behaviour reflected anything of Judaism.' (5) Williams writes ‘He was a descendant of Esau, an Edomite- and so by nature hated and resolved to murder the Son of Jacob.' (6) Malachi said ‘Was not Esau Jacob's brother? Says the Lord. Yet Jacob I have loved and Esau I have hated,' (Mal 1v2-3, see Rom 9v13) The whole of the book of Obadiah also condemns Edom's mistreatment of His brother Jacob (Israel). These facts make it all the more remarkable that Yahweh is again able to use Herod for His purposes. Yahweh is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not the God of Esau.
No doubt Herod lost no time in confirming the birthplace of the Messiah by asking the chief priests and scribes to search the scriptures. Micah 5 verse 2 reads ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me, the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old from everlasting.' The reader should compare Micah 5:2 with the actual words and quotation used by the priests and scribes. They omitted "whose goings forth have been from of old from everlasting" since this points to the divine character of the King just born, and this they would desire to avoid with its reminder of Isaiah 57:15 "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity. (7)
Herod then asked the magi when the star appeared. Afterward, he commissioned them to find the Child so that he could supposedly worship Him. On arrival the magi ‘saw the young Child and Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense and myrrh.' (Matt 2v1) These gifts were representative of the Messiah's office of Kingship and Priesthood and foretold of his death.
As mentioned Yahweh had led them to meet Herod. On their departure though, He guided them away from Herod. ‘Then being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their country another way.' (Matt 2v13) ‘Herod now thought that he had baffled the Old Testament prophecies, and the efforts of the wise men in finding Christ; but whatever crafty, cruel devices are in men's hearts the counsel of the Lord shall stand.' (8)
It is at this stage that Herod inadvertently plays his part in fulfilling the first prophecy. Joseph also had a dream where the angel of the Lord appeared to him saying "Arise take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.' (Matt 2v13) Joseph was obedient and he took the young Child and his mother ‘and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying, Out of Egypt I have called My Son.' (Matt 2 v15)
There are two specific references relating to the prophecy in the paragraph above. Both of them depict Israel as a type of the Messiah to come. Numbers 24 verses 8-9 reads ‘God brings Him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones and pierce them with His arrows. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him? Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you.' The pagan idol worshipper Balaam is himself unable to reverse or annul prophecy and the last line of that prophecy testifies of Yahweh's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 1 verse 3 regarding his seed Israel. Also the theme of Hosea is Yahweh's undying love for His people. Hosea 11 verse 1 confirms His love for them and prophesies of the coming Messiah too! ‘When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I have called My Son.'
The exodus was a type of the Messiah's flight into Egypt. Furthermore Pharaoh tried to massacre the innocent Hebrew boys and Herod tried to kill all the male children less than two years of age in all the districts of Bethlehem. This is no forced connection! In Genesis 3 verse 15, the first prophecy, Yahweh promised to send a Redeemer who would crush the serpent's head. ‘He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.' The line of the Redeemer ran from Adam to Abraham and eventually to ‘Jesus Christ the Son of Abraham, the Son of David.' (Matt 1v1)
Satan has carried out a whole series of campaigns in an effort to destroy the Seed of the woman. I have also emphasized how Haman influenced Ahaseurus to issue a decree to destroy all the Jews throughout his empire. The arrival of Jesus the Messiah though, has not prevented Satan from concentrating his efforts to destroy the Jewish people. No other nation on earth has suffered the magnitude of such atrocities as the Crusades, the Spanish inquisition, and the Nazi death camps during World War II.
During ‘the time of Jacob's trouble' (Jer 30v7), Satan will again try to eradicate the Jewish people. As I am writing this, the current Iranian Ayatollah has openly declared that he desires to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. The second prophecy that Herod brought about is a type of the Great Tribulation where there will again be suffering for the Jewish people. The Messiah shall return and deliver his people and Satan shall be bound for one thousand years before he makes his final short lived rebellion and is thrown in the lake of fire. Again although these events appear catastrophic to say the least, they are by no means beyond the control and intervention of the great I AM. Jacob was renamed Israel and Rachel his wife is used as symbolic mother for Israel. ‘The prophecy was fulfilled that was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet saying: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.' (Matt 2v18)
After the death of King Herod ‘an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying ‘Arise take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel for those who sought the young Child's life are dead.' (Matt 2v22) Before Herod's death though, it is highly significant that he is involved in some monumental building projects. ‘he was responsible for many large public works in the Greco-Roman style such as harbour at Caeserea (the former Strato's Tower which was developed as a port) and public buildings at Jerusalem and Samaria;' (9)
Ironically, by far the most important structure that Herod ordered to be built was the temple! Hence his name could be changed to Herod the Great builder! ‘It was to be bigger and better than any temple that had ever stood in Jerusalem. No expense would be spared. This was the king's present to his Jewish subjects, a new temple for the God of Israel.' (10)
This begs the question though, why did this Edomite king who attempted to slaughter their number and determine his own destiny by trying to re-arrange prophecy, build such a magnificent temple for them? David Stern's Jewish New Testament Commentary sheds some light on this issue. ‘neither his religious behaviour nor his ethics reflected anything of Judaism. He did, however reconstruct and enlarge the Second Temple, which had been built under Z'rabavel (see the book of Haggai) in 520-516 B.C.E. The Talmudic Rabbis said "One who has not seen Herod's temple has never seen a beautiful building." (Bava Batra 4a) but also, "It was built by a sinful king, and the building was intended by him as an atonement for having slain Israel's sages (Numbers Rabbah 4:14)
Herod's reign was succeeded by Archelaus in the Judean region. On return to Israel, Joseph was afraid to go there, 'And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene". (Matt 2v22-23)
Thus Herod sparks off a chain of events in the Messiah's life bringing about the fulfilment of the above prophecy. At first sight though it is not easy to pinpoint the connection between prophecy and this event. Regarding the name "Nazarene" ‘The best explanation of the origin of this name appears to be that which traces it to the word netzer in Isaiah 11:1 -the small twig, sprout or sucker, which the prophet there says, shall come forth from the stem (or rather, ‘stump') of Jesse, the branch which should fructify from his roots." (12) Also Isaiah 9 speaks of the government of the promised Son, and the people of Galilee witnessing a great light that would shine upon them. ‘By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.' (Isa 9v2)
Hence the ‘Bright and Morning Star' dwelt among them and revealed Himself to the people of Galilee. In a fantastic chain of events Yahweh led the pagan astrologers to the Edomite king Herod, who was once more unable to destroy the Seed of the woman. Three prophecies were fulfilled testifying of the arrival of the long awaited Messiah. Although desperately wicked, Herod managed to construct a temple to honour the One who ordained these events to occur, for His glory, and for His purposes to be revealed, purposes that are far higher than ours!
References
(1) John MacArthur The MacArthur Bible Commentary Thomas Nelson 2005 p1121
(2) John Darby Synopsis of the books of the Bible Vol 3 Matthew John Copper and Budd Ltd 1943 p21
(3) Parallel Commentary on the New Testament John Wesley
(4) R.T.France Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Matthew Inter-varsity press 1985 p81
(5) David H. Stern Jewish New Testament Commentary Jewish New Testament Publications
(6) George Williams Williams Complete Bible Study Kregel Publications 1994 p696
(7) J. Heading What the Bible Teaches Ritchie New Testament Commentaries John Ritchie Ltd 1984 p50
(8) Parallel Commentary on the New Testament Matthew Henry AMG Publishers p7
(9) Oxford Bible Atlas 2nd edition Oxford University Press 1984 p84
(10) Alan Millard Treasures from Bible Times Lion Publishing 1985 p169
(11) David H. Stern Jewish New Testament Commentary Jewish New Testament Publications
1989 p9
(12) Jamiesson, Fausett & Brown Commentary on the whole Bible Zondervan Publishing House 1961 p886 |
