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When was Jesus Born

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WHEN WAS JESUS BORN?: M. M. NINAN<br />

Matthew uses two Greek expressions for areas east of Palestine. First,<br />

Matthew says the Magi are from "the East" or "eastern parts"—Greek,<br />

or the distant East - ton anatolon. Magi saw the star “in the East" - te<br />

anatole<br />

Parthia <strong>was</strong> a great empire east of the Euphrates—biblically "the distant<br />

east." Euphrates area, had Babylon as its capital and included the<br />

areas of Mesopotamia, Armenia and Iran. The Parthians rose to power<br />

around 250 B.C. and were the powerful contenders against Roman<br />

Empire. The empire lasted till AD 226. This <strong>was</strong> the East—the land of<br />

the Magi. It <strong>was</strong> into this area the Israel <strong>was</strong> taken captive by the<br />

Assyrians (2 Kings 15:29; 17:23; 18:11; 1 Chronicles 5:26). These are<br />

the lost 10 tribes of Israel. They were also descendants of Abraham.<br />

Eventually the Jewish people became powerful in the empire<br />

In II Kings 24:8-15, the last kings of Judah, Jehoiachin, <strong>was</strong><br />

carried captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. But after 37<br />

years in the dungeon of Babylon II Kings 25:27-30 says the<br />

87

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