How many wise men were there?

The Bible doesn't say

Matthew says only "wise men from the east" and lists their three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Three is tradition, likely taken from the gifts, and the names Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar came centuries later. As for when, Matthew has them find "the young child" in "the house," some time after the birth, and he doesn't say how long.

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Advent and the Christmas story

When did the wise men come?
Matthew gives no date. They find a young child in a house, and Herod's order later reached children two and under, so the visit may have come well after the birth. Many churches remember it at Epiphany, January 6.
Were they kings?
Matthew calls them wise men and never kings. The kings came later, in Christian tradition.
Were the wise men at the manger?
Not in Matthew. The manger and the shepherds are in Luke, and Matthew puts the wise men in a house. Nativity sets gather everyone in one scene anyway, and that's fine.

Last checked Monday, November 9.

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