I met the grand array...

Some thoughts flitting about as I really should be practicing...

1. How wise were those Wise Men? According to Matthew, they came to Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we have observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage. When King Herod heard this, he was frightened...(NRSV). Other translations use troubled or perturbed. My French Bible uses ému, which means overwhelmed with emotion. How would he not be? Wasn't he king of the Jews?
So It occurs to me that the wise men were very observant of the heavens, but oblivious to human behavior. They went to the royal city to ask "where's the child who will is the real king?"; this might be like saying to your wife, "I just met the most fascinating woman", when you don't mean her. There are things one might think twice about saying.
Wise, OK. Smart? Perhaps not so very.

2. Herod wasn't quite up on his reading of prophecy - other things to do - and sent for his own chief priests and scribes to find out where the Messiah was to be born. I wonder - these priests seem to have been neglecting to remind Herod of those prophecies. He had to send for them to ask. The account doesn't say that they withdrew to research the literature. No, they apparently answered immediately, telling him "Bethlehem", and quoting the relevant writings. So they knew. And Bethlehem is not far from Jerusalem, only about five miles. An easy walk, even carrying weapons...

Must practice songs, must practice.

Comments

[Charles Martin]

Hi Laurel. Interesting musings. They made me wonder about the whole etymology/translation thing, so I went to the Latin Vulgate, which renders that verse, "Audiens autem Herodes rex, turbatus est . . . ," with the translation of "turbatus" varying among exasperated, disturbed or angered. As you indicate, it stands to reason King Herod would have some indignation, perhaps mingled with some fear, unless he was profoundly ignorant of the prophesies. Perhaps his minions weren't too eager to keep him abreast of controversial news, as history has shown him to be somewhat of a hothead. Just my two cents. I hope your "grippe" is well behind you! Now go practice that new repertoire! Blessings.