Herod learns of Jesus" birth (Matthew 2:3)

When Matthew says that “magi from the east arrived,” it appears that he is referring to the “Magi” of the Aura Mazda religion. The magi would have been significant individuals. They would not have travelled by themselves into the territory of the Roman Empire since they were not exactly friends. Therefore, it is doubtful that they travelled by themselves. In fact, they probably travelled in a caravan bringing along their food, clothes, and maybe some women. Since they were in semi-friendly territory, they probably also had some soldiers with them for protection from either robbers or Roman soldiers. So it should not be surprising that Herod and the citizens of Jerusalem were troubled when they arrived. It is also doubtful that only three magi came. Three magi, with three gifts, riding on three camels would not upset a king guarded by Roman soldiers and a city full of people. No, they came in force. There were probably many magi.

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. (NASB) Matt. 2:3

How did they learn about the birth of the Messiah? The answer is found in the prophecy of Daniel 9:25-27 where the time of the Messiah’s death is predicted. Since a person’s birth precedes their death, the magi would have known that his birth was near. It is important to remember that the prophet Daniel had been deported from Palestine to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. Since the Parthian Empire overlapped the ancient territory occupied by the Babylonian Empire, it is not a mystery as to how they would have known about the prophecy because of Daniel’s prominence in Babylon. His teachings would have been well known.