profectique Judæâ rerum potirentur—A persuasion existed in the minds of many, that some ancient writings of the priests contained a prediction that about that time an eastern power would prevail, and that persons proceeding from Judea would obtain dominion. Suetonius also, in the life of Vespasian, speaks of it; so that this extraordinary phenomenon was construed as pointing to that king; and we may suppose a divine impression made upon their minds, enabling them to interpret this star as a signal given by Heaven of the birth of Christ.
IV. How they prosecuted this inquiry. They came from the east to Jerusalem, in further quest of this prince. Whither should they come to inquire for the king of the Jews, but to Jerusalem, the mother-city, whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord? They might have said, "If such a prince should be born, we shall hear of him shortly in our own country, and it will be time enough then to pay our homage to him." But so impatient were they to be better acquainted with him, that they took a long journey on purpose to inquire after him. Note, Those who truly desire to know Christ, and find him, will not regard pains or perils in seeking after him. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.
Their question is, Where is he that is born king of the Jews ? They do not ask, whether there was such a one born; (they are sure of that, and speak of it with assurance, so strongly was it set home upon their hearts;) but, Where is he born? Note, Those who know something of Christ, cannot but covet to know more of him. They call Christ the King of the Jews, for so the Messiah was expected to be: and he is Protector and Ruler of all the spiritual Israel, he is born a King.
To this question they doubted not but to have a ready answer, and to find all Jerusalem worshipping at the feet of this new King; but they come from door to door with this question, and no man can give them any information. Note, There is more gross ignorance in the world, and in the church too, than we are aware of. Many that we think should direct us to Christ, are themselves strangers to him. They ask, as the spouse of the daughters of Jerusalem, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? But they are never the wiser. However, like the spouse, they pursue the inquiry, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? Are they asked, "Why do ye make this inquiry ?" It is because they have seen his star in the east. Are they asked, "What business have ye with him? What have the men of the east to do with the King of the Jenos?" They, have their answer ready; We are come to worship him]. They conclude he will, in process of time, be their King, and therefore they will betimes ingratiate themselves with him, and with those about him. Note, Those in whose hearts the day-star is risen, to give them any thing of the knowledge of Christ, must make it their business to worship him. Have we seen Christ's star? Let us study to give him honour.
V. How this inquiry was treated at Jerusalem. News of it at last came to court; and when Herod heard it, he was troubled, v. 3. He could not be a stranger to the prophecies of the Old Testament, concerning the Messiah and his kingdom, and the times fixed for his appearing by Daniel's weeks; but, having himself reigned so long and so successfully, he began to hope that those promises would for ever fail, and that his kingdom should be established and perpetuated, in spite of them. What a damp therefore must it needs be upon him, to hear talk of this King being born, now, when the time fixed for his appearing was come! Note, Carnal, wicked hearts, dread nothing so much as the fulfilling of the scriptures.
But though Herod, an Edomite, was troubled, one would have thought Jerusalem should rejoice greatly to hear that her King comes; yet, it seems, all Jerusalem, except the few there that waited for the Consolation of Israel, were troubled with Herod, and were apprehensive of I know not what ill consequences of the birth of this new King; that it would involve them in war, or restrain their lusts; they, for their parts, desired no King but Herod; no, not the Messiah himself. Note, The slavery of sin is foolishly preferred by many to the glorious liberty of the children of God, only because they apprehend some present difficulties attending that necessary revolution of the government in the soul. Herod and Jerusalem were thus troubled, from a mistaken notion that the kingdom of the Messiah would clash and interfere with the secular powers; whereas the star that proclaimed him King, plainly intimated that his kingdom was heavenly, and not of this lower world. Note, The reason why the kings of the earth, and the people, oppose the kingdom of Christ, is, because they do not know it, but err concerning it.
VI. What assistance they met with in this inquiry from the scribes and the priests, v. 4—6. Nobody can pretend to tell where the King of the Jews is, but Herod inquires where it was expected he should be born. The persons he consults are, the chief priests, who were now teachers by office; and the scribes, who made it their business to study the law; their lips must keep knowledge, but then the people must inquire the law at their mouth, Mal. 2. 7. It was generally known that Christ should be born at Bethlehem; (John 7. 42.) but Herod would have counsel's opinion upon it, and therefore applies himself to the proper persons; and, that he might be the better satisfied, he has them altogether, all the chief priests, and all the scribes; and demands of them what was the place, according to the scriptures of the Old Testament, where Christ should be born! Many a good question is put with an ill design, so was this by Herod.
The priests and scribes need not take any long time to give an answer to this query; nor do they differ in their opinion, but all agree that the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem, the city of David, here called Bethlehem of Judea, to distinguish it from another city of the same name in the land of Zebulun, Josh. 19. 15. Bethlehem signifies the house of bread; the fittest place for him to be born in, who is the true Manna, the bread which came down from heaven, which was given for the life of the world. The proof they produce is taken from Mic. 5. 2. where it is foretold, that though Bethlehem be little among the thousands of Judah, (so it is in Micah,) no very populous place, yet it shall be found not the least among the princes of Judah; (so it is here;) for Bethlehem's honour lay not, as that of other cities, in the multitude of the people, but in the magnificence of the princes it produced. Though, upon some accounts, Bethlehem was little, yet herein it had the pre-eminence above all the cities of Israel, that the Lord shall count, when he writes up the people, that this Man, even the Man Jesus Christ was born there, Ps. 87. 6. Out of thee shall come a Governor, the King of the Jews. Note, Christ will be a Saviour to those only who are willing to take him for their Governor. Bethlehem was the city of David, and David the glory of Bethlehem; there, therefore, must David's Son and Successor be born. There was a famous well at Bethlehem, by the gate, which David longed to drink of; (2. Sam. 23. 15.) in Christ we have not only bread enough and to spare, but may come and take also of the water of life freely. Observe here, how Jews and Gentiles compare notes about Jesus Christ. The Gentiles know the time of it by a star; the
