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The Magi’s Early Arrival

Dr. Randy White

The fact that the Magi do not really belong in the manger scene is one of the most commonly rebutted errors of our modern depictions of the Christmas. While there is truth to this correction, I think that we have over-corrected to the point of denial of Scripture. Consider the following quote, which is a very typical “correction.” Similar statements can be found in almost every Sunday School lesson, sermon, or commentary on the Matthew account.

On this basis we can lay out the following with a fair amount of certainty. Jesus was between 41 days and 2 years old when the magi arrived. The magi had to have come after Jesus' presentation in the temple, that is, after Jesus was 40 days old. Why? Because, Matthew’s Gospel tells us that after the magi departed, an angel warned Joseph to flee to Egypt, since Herod would seek to kill Jesus. According to Scripture, Joseph left that very night and went to Egypt (2:13-15). This would have left no time or opportunity for the presentation in the temple, which we know happened. http://www.orlutheran.com/html/magifaq.html 
The “fair amount of certainty” by which the author determines Jesus was between 41 days and 2 years old, however, is an ungrounded and false assumption. We do know that Jesus was presented in the Temple on our about the 40th day of his life (see Luke 2:21-22). We also know that after the Magi departed, Joseph took his young family to Egypt for safety, where they stayed until Herod died (Matthew 2:13-14). Does this necessitate that Joseph went to Egypt after the presentation in the Temple? Not at all. Was it possible that the Magi came, Joseph fled, and the family returned to Judea, all within the 40 day period? I think it is not only possible, but it is the only option for those who believe in the accuracy of Scripture.First, let’s consider whether or not a round-trip journey to Egypt could be made within the 40-day period. Second, let’s consider why this is our only option.As the map of Herod’s Kingdom shows, the distance from Bethlehem to the border was shorter than the distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem. And what was beyond the border? Egypt, of course. If traveling only three miles per hour, the young family could have arrived in Egyptian territory within a couple of days. Using a donkey or traveling with a caravan the trip would have been even shorter.Nothing in Scripture tells us that Jesus stayed in Egypt long. The idea of several years in Egypt is made-up in our imagination, and is not based on Scripture (in fact, is against Scripture, as we will soon see).The early church began early on to recognize January 6 as the day of the arrival at Bethlehem, just 12 days after their date for Christmas (which, I believe, has strong merit. Click here for more). Rev. James Ussher, of Biblical chronology fame, also says that the Magi arrived before the 40th day of Jesus life. Why did these earlier believers and scholars opt for an early arrival of the Magi? I am convinced they did so because it is the only viable option.Luke 2:39 says, “When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.” Since Luke is such a meticulous chronologist, this is irrefutable proof that Jesus must have been taken to Egypt and returned to Jerusalem by the 40th day, and that Herod must have died between Jesus’ birth and the 40th day presentation at the Temple. It is beyond my imagination how one would insert a few years or even months between the presentation and Luke’s declaration that “they returned to Galilee.”With this, I propose the following timeline, give or take several days -
  • December 25 – Birth of Jesus, in Bethlehem
  • January 6 – Arrival of the Magi in Jerusalem
  • January 7 – Arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem
  • January 8 – Flight to Egypt
  • January 9 –Herod kills a Jewish priest because of what Herod considered a treasonous act. Soon thereafter Herod travels to Jericho, never to return to Jerusalem
  • January 10-20 – After three to five days, Herod realizes the Magi are not going to return. He orders the slaughter of the innocents. Herod also orders all Jewish leadership to report to the Hippodrome in Jericho, where he plots to kill all of them
  • February 1 – Herod dies in Jericho
  • February 2 – Joseph begins journey to Jerusalem, having heard of Herod’s death
  • February 4 – Presentation in the Temple
  • February 5 – Return to Galilee
details from Josephus
The conclusion to the matter is that the Magi do not belong in the manger scene, but they do belong very close by, likely arriving in Bethlehem within a couple of weeks of Jesus’ birth.For more information on the timing of Jesus' birth and the arrival of the Magi, click here for a video recording.When did the magi arrive?