The passage
      v1. There is debate over the date of Herod's death, but 4BC is favoured. So, Jesus is born some time before 4BC in Bethlehem, in Judea (rather than Bethlehem in Zebulun). Magi are referred to in Daniel,1:20, 2:2, 4:7, 5:7. The word loosely cover astrologers, magicians and interpreters of dreams. It is possible they have journeyed from Babylon. In tradition they are named Melkon, Balthasar and Gasper.
      v2. For Matthew, the importance of this story lies in its fulfillment of scripture - Messiah is "a star" that will "rise out of Israel", Num.23:7. Although the Old Testament denounces astrology, Matthew relates the story, emphasizing that the Magi come to "worship", ie. do obeisance, do homage. The "star" is possibly a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn in 7BC. Even the Jews saw significance in the same planetary conjunction.
      v3. In Herod's final years he was quite paranoid and ordered the death of numerous officials, including family members, so the visit of the Magi not only disturbed Herod, but also the populous, who were rightly worried about how he might respond.
      v4-5. Herod consults the priestly hierarchy, along with experts on the Old Testament, for the birthplace of the Messiah and is told "Bethlehem in Judea."
      v6. Matthew loosely follows the Masoretic text of Micah 5:2 with some words from 2 Samuel 5:2.
      v7-10. The Magi obviously came to Jerusalem on the assumption that the new Hebrew king would be born there, but Herod is able to tell them where they must go. Obviously Herod wanted to know when the star appeared so he could calculate the child's age and efficiently eliminate any possible contender for his throne. As for the Magi, he was able to present himself as a devotee of the newly born king, so much so that he didn't even bother to send along a representative. Of course, he never expected God to intervene. As the Magi headed toward Bethlehem the star appeared overhead, confirming their journey's end.
      v11.The Magi track down the family, now living in a home, and "worship him" (They see both Jesus and Mary, but worship Jesus alone). Following Eastern custom, they give gifts to Jesus, in much they same way as gifts would be given to an important dignitary. Opening their treasure boxes, they give gold, frankincense (mixed gums used for incense), and myrrh (a spice for embalming). The ancients suggested these represented royalty, divinity, and sacrifice, but there is no evidence the Magi intended this understanding. Three gifts don't necessarily mean three visitors (always a good trivia question!).
      v12. God intervenes and warns the Magi to head home without returning to Jerusalem.

The light of humanity
      It's very easy to allow the picturesque nature of the "we three kings" story, to hide its substantial teaching. In fact, other than the little drummer boy, Christmas cards depicting the three kings on their camels are the most widely chosen secular Christmas scene. It wouldn't even offend a Muslim. Although I have to say, when I was young, most Christmas cards depicted a snow-bound English village scene, sometimes with the church in view. Anyway, we can easily miss the point of these visiting astrologers.
      Matthew goes to great length to remind us that the events surrounding the birth of Jesus fulfill scripture. Nothing is accidental. These events are designed and long ago foretold by the prophets. Matthew makes the point that God's providential care, even supernatural care, touches these events and moves them to their intended end. He also gives us an early hint of the hostility that will be shown toward Jesus by the Jewish authorities, and the opposite response shown by the Gentiles. There is a sense where the Gentiles will recognize Jesus' reign, while Israel will reject it. The Magi had but the light of a star, while Israel had the light of the scriptures. So, like Nineveh in the day of judgment, the Magi will condemn Israel for neglecting the privilege of their greater light.
      Many years ago, in communist Russia, a soldier was given a page from a Bible. It was from Isaiah. He didn't much understand it, other than the repeated phrase, "thus says the Lord." About all he could understand of God was that he speaks. So he asked the God who spoke with Isaiah, to speak with him. And He did. With this minute revelation, this flickering star, he kneeled before the God who speaks and he worshiped him.
      "The light shines in the darkness." God's grace in Christ is a fine light shining in the midst of confusion. Yet, the seeker will always find the light, so let us always seek rather than be dulled by the confusion.

v2
      oJ tecqeiV (tiktw) aor. pas. part. "the one who has been born" - the one having been born. Participle as a substantive. The sense is of a child "recently born who will become king."
      gar "-" - for. "For", RSV, introducing the reason for the wise men's question.
      autou ton astera "his star" - The wise men saw "the astrological sign of the coming king." Davies and Allison suggest there was a widespread view at the time that a mighty ruler would come out of Judea and that the wise men had recognized a highly significant astrological phenomenon indicating the coming of this king.
      en th/ anatolh/ "in the east" - at its rising, in the east. The TEV tries to cover all bases with "when it came up in the east", but the phrase is probably not saying in what part of the sky the astrological sign can be found, but rather that the wise men saw it at its rising in the sky, "we saw his star when it rose", Moffatt.
      proskunhsai (proskunew) inf. "to worship" - fall down before, do obeisance. The infinitive is probably verbal, conveying purpose, "in order to worship"; "we have come with a single purpose in mind, namely, to worship him." The sense of the word is "adoration" when accusative and "prostrate before" when dative, and must not be confused with other Greek words that mean "perform a service for", eg. latreuw, "I serve", a word often incorrectly translated as "worship"

v3
      akousaV (akouw) part. "when [King Herod] heard this" - having heard. Most translations assume that the participle here forms a temporal clause with the supplied object, "this", "these things." Yet, also possibly a circumstantial participle introducing a causal clause, "the news of this troubled King Herod and all of Jerusalem as well", Moffatt.
      etaracqh (tarassw) aor. "he was disturbed" - was troubled. "Alarmed", Barclay.

v4
      sunagagwn (sunagw) aor. part. "when he had called together" - having assembled. The participle again may form a temporal clause, "when/after ...", but attendant circumstance seems best, "assembling", "he called together", TEV, "he summoned", Phillips.
      pantaV adj. "all" - Herod is thorough in his investigation.
      grammateiV tou laou "the people's [chief priests and] teachers of the law" - the scribes of the people. The scribes are not part of the ruling elite. As lay ministers they are therefore "of the people."
      epunqaneto (punqanomai) imperf. "he asked" - he inquired. The imperfect tense here carries either an inceptive sense, ie. "he began to inquire", or is tentative, so Turner, "he tentatively inquired."
      pou adv. "where" - This interrogative serves to introduce an indirect question.

v5
      gar "for" - Expressing a causative sense, "for thus it is written", Moffatt.
      dia + gen. "-" - [it has been written] through [the prophet]. The clause properly expresses the sense that the prophets are the instrument of God's revelation.

v6
      Bhqleem "Bethlehem" - "God said, 'you people of Bethlehem'"
      gh (h) "land" - Often meaning "earth", but here obviously "territory"
      oudamwV "by no means" - certainly not
      elacisth (oV, mikroV) adj. "least" - Superlative of "small/little".
      toiV hJgemosin (wn onoV) "the rulers" - rulers, governors, chiefs. Least among the "leading cities" of Judah, or least among the "leaders/rulers" of Judah.

v7
      tote "then" - Used to refer to time past, or time future, but here "to introduce that which follows in time", BAGD.
      touV magouV "the Magi" - The anaphoric use of the article, ie. where the article is backward-looking, in this case, looking back to the reference of the Magi in v1 where there is no article. The anaphoric article carries the sense "this/that", so here, "these visitors from the East."
      kalesaV (kalew) aor. part. "called" - having called. Attendant circumstance participle identifying action accompanying the main verb "ascertained", "called ..... and found out ....." "Summoned", NJB.
      laqra/ adv. "secretly" - "Privately"; "in private", NEB.
      hkribwsen (akribow) aor. "found out" - inquired diligently. "Ascertained", NEB. The sense of diligent inquiry produces the sense conveyed by the TEV, "found out from them the exact time the star appeared."

v8
      poreuqenteV (poreuomai) aor. part. "go" - going, journeying, proceeding. Attendant circumstance participle expressing an action coordinate with the imperatival verb "search", therefore translated as an imperative, "go", and linked together by "and".
      akribwV adv. "[make a] careful [search]" - [inquire] carefully, diligently. "Search for this little child with utmost care", Phillips.
      oJpwV + subj. "so that" - Introducing a purpose clause. "So that I can worship him also."
      elqwn (ercomai) aor. part. "[I too] may go" - [I also] coming. The participle is again attendant circumstance, coordinate with "worship" and therefore translated in the subjective mood along with "worship", "may go and [may] worship him." "So that I may go myself and pay him homage", NEB.

v9
      oiJ "they" - The article here is used as a demonstrative pronoun.
      akousanteV (akouw) aor. part. "after [they] had heard" - having heard, listened. Temporal participle, "when", NRSV. Possibly a modal participle expressing manner, "the wise men listened to the king and ...", Phillips.
      en th/ anatolh/ "in the east" - See above.
      prohgen (proagw) imperf. "went ahead [of them]" - went before, lead ahead. The sense is that the cosmic sign somehow leads the wise men to Bethlehem. It points the way, guides them, leads the way.
      eJwV "until" - The sign of the rising in the east led them "until"
      estaqh (iJsthmi) aor. pas. "it stopped [over]" - it stood [over, above]. "It stopped", "came to rest over", RSV, is a slight assumption. The language reflects the symbolism of the pillar of cloud and fire that guided the Israelites through the wilderness to the promised land, so Phillips is closer to the mark with his "it shone immediately above the place where the little child lay." Of course, even this literal description may not explain the phenomenon. Whatever happened, the wise men read the sign and understood that Bethlehem was the site of the king's birth.
      ouJ (oJV) gen. "where" - Genitive of place.

v10
      idonteV (oJraw) aor. part. "when they saw" - seeing, caught sight of. A temporal participle is the choice of the majority of translators, but a complementary use is possible, "the sight of the star filled them with incredible joy", Phillips; or possibly expressing cause/reason, "because", "they were thrilled and excited to see the star", CEV.

v11
      elqonteV (ercomai) aor. part. "on coming to [the house]" - coming. Temporal participle. "Entering the house."
      pesonteV (piptw) aor. part. "they bowed down" - falling down. Attendant circumstance participle expressing action accompanying the main verb "worship", "they knelt down and worshiped him", TEV, CEV.
      touV qhsaurouV (oV) "treasures" - The reference is probably to the container in which the gifts are stowed and kept safe, therefore "treasure box", "money bag"....