Page:Commentaries of Ishodad of Merv, volume 1.djvu/64

18 forth; fourth, that it might destroy Chaldaism; for a god was worshipped by the Persians by means of a star which was called by them Nanæa, and by others differently; and by what was true amongst them, by that he draws them to our Lord; and fifth, in order that we should acknowledge the Divinity and Lordship of the Christ; for must not this one be all great, whose birth is now preached, inasmuch as that becomes His servant and courier who is confessed amongst them as a god? and sixth, in order to shew that He who is born is supreme and heavenly, for the forerunners of heavenly beings are heavenly, and of earthly beings earthly. But the birth of our Lord was revealed first to the heathen Magians, because the testimony of enemies is credible about the good things of their enemies; and because they do not proclaim it with flattery, like compatriots, God moved them to this; and that the Jews also might be reproved, if heathens thus believed in the Son of David, but they rejected Him; secondly, that if even a sign were shewn to the Magians, yet that sign was shewn to the whole world by means of the Magians, and that they might perceive the birth of the Autocrat, that is to say, the Almighty, who is over all nations through whom they were passing. And just as not only on account of Hezekia a sign was given, but also that it might be announced to the whole world by means of the sun that turned back, that they might make known the Creator of all, and Him who turned Hezekia from death to life, and His excellency, etc.; and just as our Lord was fled with to Egypt, that in going and returning the fame of His birth might be made known, that is to say, that He might proclaim it to the inhabited world, and at the same time also  the prophecy should be fulfilled, Behold, the Lord rideth on the swift clouds, and cometh into Egypt, and From Egypt have I called My Son;  thus the fact was also furnished to the Magians; thirdly, because Persia and Egypt, more than all the earth, were inflamed with the ardour of idolatry. He shews from the beginning that He will be the Healer of them both, and that the rest also of those who are held in error may have a good hope; therefore, from Persia He sends the Magians, but to Egypt He and His mother go down; and fourthly, to the Magians the birth was announced, and not to the Jews, because their kingdom was destroyed at that time, and impostors and speculators were announced, who should bring comfort and encouragement to their souls, but in reality would dare to raise a rebellion against Cæsar; and those heralds perished by the malice of Herod; fifthly, that by the coming of the Magians and by the decrees from their kings which they carried