§ 2. Birth and Childhood

wise men

Daniel 1:19–20

And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.

Daniel 2:10–11

The Chaldeans answered the king and said, "There is *not a man on earth* who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, *whose dwelling is not with flesh*."

Daniel 2:25–28

Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: "I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation." The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?" Daniel answered the king and said, "No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days….

star

Revelation 22:16

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

Revelation 2:26–28

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star.

troubled

The Greek here is ταράσσω.

Matthew 14:26

But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.

John 12:27

Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.

John 14:1, 27

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Micah 5:2

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.

frankincense

The Greek word for "frankincense" (λίβανος, "libanos") means "frankincense-tree, Boswellia Carterii; the gum of the tree λίβανος, used to burn at sacrifices."

Wikipedia opines, "The name of frankincense in Koine Greek (the language of the New Testament)…is cognate with the name of Lebanon (λίβανος, 'libanos'); the same can be said with regard to Arabic, Phoenician, Hebrew, and Vulgar Latin. This is postulated to be because they both derive from the word for 'white' and that the spice route went via Mount Lebanon."

Leviticus 2:1–2

When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Song of Songs 3:6–7, 9

What is that coming up from the wilderness
like columns of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
with all the fragrant powders of a merchant?
Behold, it is the litter of Solomon!

King Solomon made himself a carriage
from the wood of Lebanon.

Hosea 14:4–7

I will heal their apostasy;
I will love them freely,
for my anger has turned from them.
I will be like the dew to Israel;
he shall blossom like the lily;
he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
his shoots shall spread out;
his beauty shall be like the olive,
and his fragrance like Lebanon.
They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Psalm 72:1, 15–17, 20

Of Solomon.
Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!

Long may he live;
may gold of Sheba be given to him!
May prayer be made for him continually,
and blessings invoked for him all the day!
May there be abundance of grain in the land;
on the tops of the mountains may it wave;
may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
like the grass of the field!
May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed!

The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

myrrh

The Greek for "myrrh" is literally "smyrna" (σμύρνα).

John 19:39

Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.

Song of Songs 4:6

Until the day breathes
and the shadows flee,
I will go away to the mountain of myrrh
and the hill of frankincense.

child

The Greek word for "child" (παιδίον) means "little or young child (up to 7 years, according to Hippocrates quoted in Philo 1.26)." The wise men must have had a lengthy journey from the east, since Jesus was no longer an infant when they arrived.

When Herod committed his atrocity, the time since Jesus's birth was approaching two years.

Matthew 2:16

Then Herod…sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

Compare the use of the same word for "child" elsewhere in Matthew:

11:16

But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates….

14:21

And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.