vii. 21, we read o/ rtybwrtc, iv TT\ y?j, who were born in the land. — TUV 'louddiun, of the Jews) The name of Jews after the Baby lonian Captivity included all the children of Israel, being op posed to Greeks or Gentiles. Whence it is given also to Galileans in Luke vii. 3 ; John ii. 6 ; Acts x. 28, etc. The Jews, how ever, or Israelites, called Christ the king of Israel, the Gentiles the king of the Jews. See ch. xxvii. 29, 37, 42 ; John i. 50, xii. 13, xviii. 33. — e'lBo/xsv yap x.r.X., for we have seen, etc.) Prognostics both time and false occur, especially in the case of nativities. — Aurot rbv affrfpa, His star) His own. In proportion as the Magi were better acquainted with the ordinary course of the stars, so much the more easily were they able to appreciate the character of the extraordinary phenomenon, and the refer ence of the star which was seen to this King who was born. What was their principle in either case, who can now decide ? The star was either in itself new, or in a new situation, or endued with a new or perhaps even a various motion. Whether it still exists or be destined to appear again, who knows ? The Magi must have undoubtedly had either an ancient revelation from the prophecies of Balaam, Daniel, etc., or a new one by a dream, cf. ver. 12. — 'The Magi are led by a star; the fisher men by fishes, to the knowledge of Christ. Chalcidius,2 in his Commentaries on Plato, has mentioned a tradition concerning this star. — Iv T-?J avaro'kri, in the East) They mean to indicate the quarter from whence they have come ; for the article ry shows that the east country is intended. These words should therefore be construed with i'<do/Asv (ive have seeti), for whilst they were in the east they had seen the star to the west, over the geogra phical situation (clima) of Palestine. See ver. 9. — vpoaxwrisat AUT'JJ, to ivorship Him) The verb vpoaxuvsTv (to worship) in the New Testament as well as with profane authors, governs mostly a dative, though it sometimes admits an accusative. The Magi acknowledged Jesus as the King of Grace, and as their Lord. See Luke i. 43. All things must however be interpreted
1 The methods of Divine revelations not unfrequently are disclosed only to those to whom they are vouchsafed. — Vers. Germ.
2 He flourished in the third or fourth century, and wrote a commentary on the Timseus of Plato. Considerable doubt exists as to his religious opi nions. — (I. B.)