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The Adoration of the Magi Persian star-gazers hasten to Israel for the birth of a royal heir, but find that King Herod has had his fill of them.

In two parts

4 BC
Music: Franz Joseph Haydn

© Zeynel Cebeci, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0. Source

About this picture …

Drawn by the fragrance of a star... The delicate white flowers of Ornithogalum umbellatum are called ‘star of Bethlehem’.

The Adoration of the Magi

Part 1 of 2

According to Pliny the Elder (23-79), a Roman contemporary of St Paul, ‘magi’ were believed to be followers of Zoroaster, interpreters of dreams, worshippers of the stars and secret knowledge, not to mention conjurors and charlatans.

NOT long before King Herod died, astrologers from Persia agreed that an unusual star announced the birth of a Jewish prince. A group of them set off for Jerusalem, no doubt expecting to find Herod’s palace in celebration.

But Herod had already had an heir, Antipater, who had recently attempted to assassinate him; and as Herod was not of Israel’s royal line, but from recent convert stock, and owed his throne to Roman favour, news of a possibly legitimate claimant from the birthplace of King David was unwelcome. So he sent the eager Persians off to find their prince, with instructions to report back.

The star led the magi to a Bethlehem cave, a rough-and-ready stable where they found their prince of David’s line in a manger. Convinced nonetheless, they presented him with the gifts they had brought: gold for a king, myrrh for a mortal, and incense for a god.

Now distrustful of Herod, they returned home without submitting their report.

Jump to Part 2

Précis

A group of magi, Persian Astrologers, believed that stars foretold the birth of a Jewish prince, but, on arriving in Jerusalem they found Herod did not expect or want another troublesome heir. So when they had found Jesus, their prince, lying in a Bethlehem manger, they presented him with their expensive gifts, and left without telling Herod. (57 / 60 words)

Part Two

© Grand Parc - Bordeaux, France, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0. Source

About this picture …

All kinds of incense for sale in Jerusalem.

HEROD soon realised that the magi were not coming back, and inferred that they, at any rate, believed they had found a legitimate claimant to his throne.

Knowing that the star had been visible for two years, Herod had every male child in Bethlehem under that age murdered.* He had Zechariah, father of John the Baptist and the husband of Mary’s aunt Elizabeth, killed in the Temple itself, when he would not reveal where his infant son was hidden. Simeon, the respected prophet who died in peace after holding Jesus in his arms and publicly declaring he was Israel’s long-awaited King, was refused a proper burial; but Mary and Joseph smuggled Jesus to safety in Egypt.

As for the magi, they had set out from the east believing that the stars were far-off gods who controlled events on earth. They arrived home having found God lying in a Bethlehem manger, while the jubilant and obedient heavens declared the glory of their infant Maker.*

Copy Book

This is quite in character. Herod issued instructions (which were ignored) to murder dozens of people when he himself died, just so that Jerusalem would appear to be in mourning for him.

See Psalm 19:1-6. At Mattins on Christmas Day we sing:

“THY Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shone upon the world with the light of knowledge: for thereby they who adored the stars through a star were taught to worship thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know thee the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory to thee!”For the Sun of Righteousness, see Malachi 4:2, and for the Dayspring, Luke 1:78.

Précis

When the magi did not report back to him, Herod guessed they had found their ‘prince’. In a panic, he had all the infant children of Bethlehem murdered, and anyone who spoke of this prince. But Jesus had been spirited away to safety, and the magi had gone home to Persia with a totally new outlook on the stars. (59 / 60 words)

Source

Based on Matthew 2, with additions from ancient tradition.

Suggested Music

1 2

Symphony No. 101 D major (‘Clock’)

2: Andante

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, conducted by Adam Fischer.

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Transcript / Notes

The Symphony is one of twelve composed for London audiences. No. 101 was performed during the composer’s second visit to London, in 1794 to 1795, and was premiered on March 3rd, 1794, in the Hanover Square Rooms.

The Creation (1799)

The Heavens are Telling

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed the Choir of King’s College Cambridge, conducted by Sir David Willcocks.

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Transcript / Notes

CHORUS
The heavens are telling the glory of God.
The wonder of his works displays the firmament.

GABRIEL, URIEL, RAPHAEL
To day, that is coming, speaks it the day;
the night, that is gone, to following night.

CHORUS
The heavens are telling the glory of God.
The wonder of works displays the firmament.

GABRIEL, URIEL, RAPHAEL
In all the land resounds the word,
never unperceived, ever understood.

CHORUS
The heavens are telling the glory of God.
The wonder of his works displays the firmament.

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