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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 />
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