The "wise men" were "magi." (The word in the Greek text for Matthew 2:1 is the adjective form, "magos".) "Magi" is the name given by the Babylonians,
Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, soothsayers, sorcerers etc. It is the same name that is translated "sorcerer" (King James Version) in Acts 13.
Acts 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
I take it from their close observation of the stars, that these men were more along the lines of astrologers than other categories of ancient "wise
men." Had they been kings, I think the record would have said so. It begs the question, however, "How could pagan astrologers have had such knowledge about the birth of Jesus Christ?" The record does not say, and we will never know.
There is a possible explanation that deserves consideration, though again, we’ll never know. Were these "wise men" from Babylon? There is a record in the book of Daniel that could give reason to reflect on the possible source of the knowledge of these men. An abbreviated account of the record follows:
Daniel 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
Daniel 2:9 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel 2:25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
Daniel 2:46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
Daniel had been previously associated (in the mind of the Babylonian administration) with the astrologers, magicians, and soothsayers. He was subsequently promoted to ruler over the whole province, including over all the "wise men" of Babylon. Did he have further revelation and teach the "wise men" of Babylon about signs in the sky that would appear when the "King of the Jews" would be born? Did they then pass on this revelation from one generation to the next while they continued to observe the signs of the heavens? It’s possible. We’ll never know, but they recognized something that no one else did.
Bless.
Ken Brown