When Did The Wise Men Arrive?

The Bible is not clear on this.  However, I suggest two possibilities based on biblical information and reasoning.  Let’s start with what we know:

• We know the wise men could not have come before the dedication of Jesus at the Temple.  Why?  Because Mary and Joseph would have had the valuable gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) and therefore would have been able to purchase a lamb for the sin offering. Instead, they availed themselves of the provision for the poor — a turtledove or pigeon.  For more information on this, read Who’s Often Forgotten in the Birth of Jesus Story?  Why is Simeon Significant in the Nativity Narrative? and Why is Anna Significant in the Nativity Narrative?

• We know that the wise men were sent to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born (Matt 2:8). I suggest it was in the lower level of a relative’s house because there was no space for them in the upper room of the house.  There could have been many people already there because of the census. And when those people left, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus could have been invited into the upper room of the house. That would explain why Matthew records that the wise men “came into the house” (Mat 2:11).  Read Was Jesus Born in a Stable, a Cave or a House?

• We also know that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus remained in Bethlehem 40 days or more after the birth of Jesus. 

Now, let’s look at the two possible times when the wise men might have arrived.

1. The Arrival of the Wise Men

After the dedication of Jesus in the Temple, 40+ days after His birth, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned to Nazareth. 

Luke 2:39  And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

The Bible does not say that their return to Nazareth was immediately after the dedication and purification ceremonies were accomplished.  Since Luke did not address the arrival of the wise men, his account goes from the dedication to the return to Nazareth.  He gives the important information but not necessarily all of the details.

It’s possible the family could have returned to Bethlehem to a relative’s home and waited a short time before returning to Nazareth.  It would have been helpful for Mary to get stronger for the journey and for baby Jesus to be a little older when they traveled back to Nazareth.  If they did stay longer in Bethlehem, the wise men could have arrived during that time:

Mat 2:11  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Mat 2:12  And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

If the wise men saw Jesus in Bethlehem 40 + days after His birth, this verse in Luke would chronologically fit after their arrival, which would also have been after the dedication and purification ceremonies at the Temple.

Luke 2:39  And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

Mat 2:13  And when they were departed [the wise men], behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream [in Nazareth], saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

Mat 2:14  When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Because each Gospel account focuses on varying highlights from the nativity narrative, it’s difficult to trace the precise chronology.  Each Gospel writer, guided by the Holy Spirit, included or omitted details.  For example, Matthew does not include the family’s return home to Nazareth, and Luke does not include the wise men’s visit. But by piecing the story together (also called harmonizing the Gospels), we can come to biblical reasoning.

So the first possibility of the timing of the wise men’s arrival was after the Temple dedication in Bethlehem, but before Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Nazareth.  

2. Another Possibility of the Arrival of the Wise Men

It’s possible the family did leave immediately or shortly after the Temple ceremonies, and before the wise men’s arrival.  Perhaps the star led the wise men northwest to Nazareth. However, the Bible does not tell us that.  If it did, the wise men would have seen Jesus in Nazareth, but again, we do not know the timing because the accounts of Matthew and Luke are not linked.  Therefore, this possibility is less likely.

3. Yet, Another Possibility of the Arrival of the Wise Men

In Luke, we are told about Jesus in the Temple at the age of 12 (Luke 2:42ff). But before that account we are given a very significant detail.

Luke 2:40  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Luke 2:41  Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

Verse 41 tells that the family journeyed to Jerusalem EVERY year at the Feast of Passover.  This suggests that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus could have returned home after the Temple ceremonies and then returned to Jerusalem months later for the Feast of the Passover.  Again, they would likely have sought lodging with a relative– in Bethlehem.  So, the wise men could have arrived in Bethlehem, at the relative’s house, when the family returned for the Feast of the Passover.  There, they could have seen the young child:

Mat 2:9  … the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

Note that the Greek word for child can also mean infant. The family would have returned to Nazareth after the Feast of Passover and then, from there, they were sent to Egypt.

Conclusion

There’s no way to know the exact timing of the wise men’s arrival, but we know it had to be 40 days at least.  The Gospels give us sufficient information but not fully comprehensive, all-encompassing, or totally exhaustive information. 

We are given enough to believe and trust, but much mystery remains.  We can agree with the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, who said, “Oh Lord, thou knowest.” (Jeremiah 15:15, Ezekiel 37:3). 

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