Easton's Bible Dictionary: M. G. Easton, M.A., D.D.

Wise men

Mentioned in Dan. 2:12 included three classes,

  1. astrologers,
  2. Chaldeans, and
  3. soothsayers.

The word in the original (hakamim) probably means "medicine men. In Chaldea medicine was only a branch of magic. The "wise men" of Mt. 2:7, who came from the East to Jerusalem, were magi from Persia or Arabia.



Original from The Bible Foundation - bf.org. They claim public domain status for their original text.