Matthew 2:11 NET
11 As they came into the house and saw the
child with Mary his mother, they bowed down
and worshiped him. They opened their
treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:8-11 NET
8He (Herod) sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and
look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform
me so that I can go and worship him as well.”
9After listening to the king they left, and once again
the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped
above the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star they shouted joyfully.
11 As they came into the house and saw the child with
Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him.
They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Luke 2:1-4 NET
1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar
Augustus to register all the empire for taxes.
2This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius
was governor of Syria.
3Everyone went to his own town to be registered.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in
Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family line of David.
Matthew 2:1-3 NET
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the
time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to
Jerusalem
2saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the
Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to
worship him.”
3When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all
Jerusalem with him.
Matthew 2:4-7 NET
4After assembling all the chief priests and experts in
the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5“In Bethlehem of Judea,” they said, “for it is written
this way by the prophet:
6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are in no
way least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will
come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and
determined from them when the star had appeared.
Numbers 24:17 NET
17 ‘I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close
at hand. A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a
scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the skulls of
Moab, and the heads of all the sons of Sheth.
Matthew 2:8-11 NET
8He (Herod) sent them to Bethlehem
and said, “Go and look carefully for the
child. When you find him, inform me so
that I can go and worship him as well.”
9After listening to the king they left, and
once again the star they saw when it rose
led them until it stopped above the place
where the child was.
10 When they saw the star they shouted
joyfully.
11 As they came into the house and saw
the child with Mary his mother, they
bowed down and worshiped him. They
opened their treasure boxes and gave him
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Numbers 24:17 NET
17 ‘I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close
at hand. A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a
scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the skulls of
Moab, and the heads of all the sons of Sheth.
Parthian Empire
•Jewish people (in Babylonian exile) who did not return to
Jerusalem may have continued sharing prophecies about the
“star” and a “new king of the Jews”.
Nabataean Kingdom
•Herod’s mother is Nabataean.
•Aretas IV (Nabataean) gave his daughter to marry Herod’s son,
Antipas, for a wife.
•Nabataean is on the trade route for frankincense and myrrh.
Nabataean had gold in their land.
•The wise men were granted an audience with King Herod.
•Proximity to Israel gives them awareness of the prophecies.
1 Kings 10:2, 10 NET
2She (Queen of Sheba) arrived in Jerusalem with a
great display of pomp, bringing with her camels carrying
spices, a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems.
She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything
that was on her mind.
10 She gave the king 120 talents of gold, a very large
quantity of spices, and precious gems. The quantity of
spices the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon has never
been matched.
Isaiah 60:3, 6 NET
3Nations come to your light, kings to your bright light.
6Camel caravans will cover your roads, young camels
from Midian and Ephah. All the merchants of Sheba will
come, bringing gold and incense and singing praises to
the LORD.
Notice the Similarities
Queen of Sheba honored Solomon, son of David, with
gifts to honor the King.
The wise men honored Jesus, descendant of David, with
gifts to honor the King.
Boswellia Sacra
Exodus 30:34-35 NET
34 The LORD said to Moses: “Take spices, gum
resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense of
equal amounts
35 and make it into an incense, a perfume, the
work of a perfumer. It is to be finely ground, and
pure and sacred.
Commiphora Myrrha
Proverbs 18:16 NLT
16 Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to
important people!
