who was to deliver Israel from the Roman yoke.  And, as the Gospel of Matthew (2:3) informs us:  “When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”  Naturally so, when it is remembered that it was an Earthly Kingdom that they expected the Messiah would inherit.  And so, gathering the chief priests and scribes of Jerusalem around him, he bade them tell him the particulars regarding the prophecies regarding the Messiah—­where he was expected to be born.  And they answered him, saying:  “In Bethlehem of Judea for so hath the prophets spoken.”

And hearing the testimony of the scribes and priests, the wily Herod, who feared the realization of this old Hebrew prophecy which threatened to cost him his throne if fulfilled, called the Magi to his palace and in private consultation inquired of them the reason of their search.  And when they told him of the astrological indications—­of the “Star”—­he was still more wrought up, and wished to locate the dangerous child.  And so he inquired of them the exact date at which the star had appeared, that he might be better able to find the infant, knowing its date of birth in Bethlehem. (See Matthew 2:7.) And learning this he bade them go to Bethlehem and find the child they sought, and cunningly added, “And when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.”  Thus craftily concealing his intentions to seize and kill the child, he endeavored to press the Magi into his service as detectives, by pretending to join in their desire to locate the Divine Child.

The Magi traveled on to Bethlehem, and arriving there made diligent inquiry regarding infants that had been born about the time that the star appeared.  There were many infants born in Bethlehem during the same month, of course, and the search was difficult.  But they soon heard strange rumors about a babe that had been born to travelers in Bethlehem about that time, the birth of whom had been attended by a strange occurrence.  This peculiar happening is related in Luke 2:8-20, in which it is stated that at the time of the birth of Jesus in the manger, certain shepherds keeping the night-watch over their flocks saw an angel standing by them, and “the glory of the Lord” shining around about them.  And the angel bade them be not afraid, for to them was to be given tidings of great joy, for there was born that very day, in Bethlehem, one who was to be the Anointed Lord of the world.  And the angel further directed them that the babe would be found lying in a manger in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes which was to be their sign.  And then suddenly the place was filled with a multitude of supernatural beings, praising God, singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good-will among men.”  And the shepherds flocked to the town, and there found the child in the manger.  And they spread abroad the report of the wonderful event accompanying the birth of the child.  And consequently the child and its parents became objects of more or less public interest.