The wise men appear to have packed up and gone to Jerusalem in haste, but there is a long delay until they reach Bethlehem.
Philo of Alexandria, a 1st century AD Jewish scholar stated that the scholar of astronomy perceives “timely signs of coming events” since “the stars were made for signs” (De Opificio Mundi, 22).
The time of appearance of a comet was deemed in the ancient world to mark the day that a great king was born. This is why Herod was anxious to learn from the Magi when exactly they had first observed the star.
“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.” (Matthew 2:7).
Herod’s inquiry implies that the Messiah – Jesus was born on the day the star appeared in the sky.
Magi, a Persian word, denoted that the wise men were priests among the Medes. This priesthood had existed in Persia since the exile of the Jews to Babylon in 586 BC. These priests had a habit of visiting kings, maybe to offer advice and share their wisdom. The Jewish historian Josephus records that Magi had already visited Herod in 10 BC. Thus, the journey made by the ‘three wise men’ was not unusual.
The comet of 5 BC, catalogue no. 63 was noted as being visible for 70 days. This would give ample time for the wise men to saddle up their camels and travel from Media in Persia to Jerusalem in Judea.
Lawrence of Arabia in The Seven Pillars of Wisdom states that a fully loaded camel can cover up to 100 miles if hard pressed or 50 miles a day comfortably.
The Magi would have travelled between 750-800 miles to reach Jerusalem from where they lived in Persia. This would have taken them about 15-16 days. If the star had been visible for just over two weeks, they would have got there. However, it was visible for well over two months. They may have travelled in haste to reach Jerusalem in time for Passover and so taken only 12-13 days to get there.
Thus the Magi probably got way-laid at Herod’s palace in Jerusalem for a very long time. Herod was taking his time making inquiries as to the advent of a competing claim to the throne before letting the Magi go on their way. When the Magi finally leave the palace they are surprised and overjoyed to see that the star is still visible in the sky.
“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” (Matthew 2:9-10)
Most comets would have disappeared over the course of two weeks, but this comet continued to be visible for long enough for the Magi to complete their journey with a long delay, and still arrive at Bethlehem a long time later with their gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.
Merry and True 