kings who bought gifts

[tillek]

Does any one konw the names of the three kings who bought gifts to jesus i can only find nicodemus the other two have 6 and 8 letters in them !!!!

[Quizmonkey]

Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior (I think - check spelling!)

[tillek]

cheers quizmonkey all spellings correct!!!! I cant believe this was a question set for nursery children!!! Or am I just very thick and uninterested in religion!!!! That question doesnt need answering thanks lol!!

[ursula62]

This is folklore, not religion.

They weren't Kings, they were Magi or Wise Men and nowhere in the Bible does it say there were three - it just mentions the three gifts.

[Quizmonkey]

Religion...folklore...is there a difference? Why is one more believable than the other? Discuss...

[ursula62]

lol good point Quizmonkey.

My niece is in trouble at her school. She was told off for reading her horoscope in a magazine at breaktime - the RE teacher (a nun) told her it was unchristian. My niece got lippy and said if it was OK for the Magi to foretell Jesus's birth by reading the stars, how come reading a horoscope was such a sin nowadays? She now has to do a week's detention for being cheeky. :-(

[copippin]

How about the carol"we three kings of orient are"?? maybe they just called themselves kings instead of wise men.

[Drusilla]

Melchior from Arabia brought gold, a symbol of kingship.
Balthazar from South Yemen brought Frankincense, an incense only offered up to God.
Caspar or Gaspar from Tarsus(S.Turkey) brought myrhh a healing balm that was also used in embalming.
The gifts are meant as representations of Jesus' roles as king, son of God, healer and resurrected being.

[Drusilla]

Sorry, it was only after I posted that I realised the gloves were off and we weren't being serious. I think the school's a bit harsh on your niece, ursula. How many people would have realised they were wise men and astrologers, rather than kings?
She should have been congratulated and the teacher could have developed an interesting discussion upon the ancient linking of astronomy and astrology and today's separation and the condemnation of astrology by astronomers.
I suppose tight educational restrictions today hamper expressive thought. Sad really!

[jno]

ursula you have a pretty smart niece. (Smartness isn't necessarily seen as a good thing in religious education, or course.) But yes, the details of the 'three kings' aren't in the Bible so aren't strictly part of Christian belief.

[Narolines]

As a very young person many decades ago I was a king/mage/wise man/astrologer/seer/what-have-you in the school nativity play, and in our script Melchior had the gold, Balthasar had the myrrh and Caspar (me) had the frankincense - but that's neither important nor relevant, really........I can still remember my opening lines, though!

[ursula62]

thank you - I think my niece is wonderful too! Mind you she does have a lot to say for herself when she knows she is right... anyway back to the kings/wise men...

I received a joke the other day... What If It Had Been Three Wise WOMEN??


Do you know what would have happened if it had been three Wise Women instead of three Wise Men ?

They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts instead of expensive ones.


Here's Men's rebuttal.....

Yeah, and do you know what they said would have said when they left the stable?

"Did you see the sandals Mary was wearing with that gown?"

"That baby doesn't look anything like Joseph!"

"Can you believe they let all of those disgusting animals in the house?"

"I heard that Joseph isn't even working right now!"

"And that donkey that they are riding has seen better days too!"

"Want to bet on how long it will take until you get your casserole dish back?"

[lizzierose]

can anyone remeber the name of the 4th one who got lost on the way or lost his present or stopped to help someone or something. we did a play about him at school. bu tthat was some time ago now

[ursula62]

The fourth wise man is said to be Artaban. He got lost on the way to Bethlehem and he and his servant Orantes spent the rest of their lives giving presents to all children in case one of them was the Christ child. The legend was published by Henry Van Dyke.

[tillek]

I am dreadfully sorry i really didnt mean to start a religious war just wanted the names!!!!!!!!!

[ursula62]

hey tillek, don't worry - it's all lighthearted

[Dkeyse]

Great stuff, great interaction, but can I ask: What if Jesus had been a girl? Am sending this Christmas day, so hope question is topical enough!!