Time. Much too little time to prepare. What to take with them? How long would they travel? How much to provision? Since they were carrying treasure they required protection, a military cohort. The caravan had begun to swell with soldiers, camel attendants, slaves, tents and all the accouterments necessary to a long journey. Because the phenomenon could be observed better at night, that is when they traveled, stopping only for an occasional conference which usually determined their next move. When they moved, the "star" moved. When they stopped, the star stopped. It led them west and south. The familiar sound of the camel's feet plodding on sand and earth, labored breathing, sweat dampening stinking flanks. No matter the night cool, travel by camel back was work for rider and ridden alike. Hours passed in silence. Swaying, creaking, lost in reverie and time. What were they looking for? What lay ahead of them? Where was this star leading them? How would they be received along the way?

"I never believed omens could be so compelling!" The exclamation mixed with the sounds of the train. These men knew that much of their art was pure chicanery. They were not fools. The notion that stellar phenomena foretold anything concerning human endeavor held little credibility in their disciplined minds. For all of their genius, however, they were practical men. Men of the world. They knew what royalty wanted to hear. And since it was royalty that held the power and gold, it was prudent to regale them with wonders of magic intended, of course, to enhance the royal persona.

"It is no simple matter to discover a new star. One must use one's imagination. A simple stratagem to make us richer--and no doubt, safer."

"That is why they call us wise men, is it not?"

Others were not amused. This was no cleverly invented canard, no practical joke to play on a witless king. They knew that the star they followed reached for them, leading them, nourishing them. It waited upon them more certain and pure than the sun and moon.

He had spent the last hour preparing the caravan to be on its way yet once more. He could hear the gurgle of the Jordan waters nearby as he observed the star--or whatever it was--hanging low in the western sky just above the horizon. He watched pensively as his slave cinched the saddle on the dirty beast upon which he had ridden this far. He was weary. He despaired of ever finding whatever it was they were looking for, wherever this thing was leading them. Perhaps they had been foolish. Perhaps the study of astrology, however ancient, was a hoax. Yet, he mounted the camel and tried to steady himself against being jerked back and forth, as the animal got to its feet. He fixed his eyes on the star, as they had come to call it, and spurred the beast into line. The caravan was on its way again. Although his eyes followed the star, he didn't think about it. He had long since become accustomed to its presence and no longer felt anything at all about it. His mind wandered without direction or purpose, and while in its promenade, the star concluded its movement.

He watched for several minutes more. For months, the brilliant phenomenon had distinctly moved in relation to their travels. Now it appeared stationary. Having left the small town of Jericho behind them, they moved up the steady incline toward the Jewish city of Jerusalem. He spurred his camel and pulled abreast of the caravan's leader.

"Welcome, my brother, the night is yet interminable and my bones ache beyond description."

"They may not need ache much longer; look."

The other man glanced again at the familiar star and remarked, "So?"

"Look closely."

Abruptly, he reined his camel. Since he led the caravan, all stopped. Weariness vanished as his face frowned and then relaxed in quiet elation. "It is stilled," he whispered.

The star came and stood over where the young child was.

Although less than an hour into this night's journey, the decision was quickly made to halt the caravan and reassess the approach to the mission. Night had fallen softly upon the countryside. Clouds above reflected light from Jerusalem causing eerie vapors to seem luminescent. Unseen shepherds, one standing solitary, watchful and alone tending sheep in the distance, the others asleep waiting their watch.

"We shall abide here until morning."

As the slaves began building a fire, men of science and wisdom conferred together once again.

"This is the land of the Jews. How shall we approach them? How can we learn why we have come among such a people? How shall we explain ourselves?" The astrologers were not unfamiliar with Jews. Indeed, many Jews lived in their own country, descendants of an ancient captivity.

Flames flickered brightly. Settling themselves upon cushions arranged in a semi-circle by slaves, food was served. Figs, grapes, olives, assorted meats, wine and goat's milk. Perhaps no feast to these wealthy men, but to the hungry it might appear over-indulgent. This did not concern them.

"I have studied much on Jews," one of them ventured. "They have been a part of our own culture since the days of Nebuchadnezzar."

"Have you studied their Book?" asked another.

"You refer, of course, to the writings of Moses," said his companion, as if the question were absurd.

"They call it their Torah, God's Law."

"Do they not have books of poetry also?"

"The writings of David, Solomon and others. Other prophets arose during the time of captivity. Then of course, there was Daniel. He looms larger than all in our history, yet he was a Jew. Yes, and I have studied their rabbinical writings, Hillel and Shammai as well."

"And now our star has led us to their land."

"A king, then, is born among them?"

"Exactly. And their God whom Nebuchadnezzar, Darius the Mede, Cyrus the Great and Ahasueras, all acknowledged, has brought us here to honor him."

"You jest." Flat. Cynical.

"I do not jest."

"Merely honor, or worship?" More cynicism.

"We do not know. Perhaps we will find out when we find him."

"And just how shall we do that? We can't parade the whole caravan aimlessly through Jerusalem." This seemed a legitimate, practical consideration. Having come this far, they were now faced with the issue of how to approach dwellers in a land foreign to them. Language was not the problem. Each of them spoke fluent Aramaic. But their dress, the armed guard, the ostentation, the impression they would make would skew, or perhaps mitigate, any meaningful information they might gather.

"We stay here. We do not bring the caravan into the city just yet. We send our Aramaic-speaking slaves among the people. Let them inquire. Surely, the common folk will know. Then we follow."

It took some arguing and deliberation but, at length, they agreed on this procedure and slaves went out among the streets of Jerusalem asking, "Where is he that is born king of the Jews?"