Thank you for bringing a bit of clarity to this well-worn myth of the “Three Kings.” Another rather ridiculous anomaly about this text (Matt. 2) is how these three (or more?) “Wise Men” managed to simultaneously come from the east, and yet follow a star “to the east” to get there (westward of the “east” from which they came? Also, the original text makes clear that they they were commissioned by Herod to locate this supposed newborn “King of the Jews” since this obviously posed a threat to Herod’s own title, as (Roman-appointed) king of the Jews! So in effect, these three “wise men” were royal spies, rather like Rosencrantz & Guildenstern — not there out of devotion. But apparently, seeing the newborn child, they decided to flee back to their own country, rather than spill the beans to Herod. But it was Joseph “in a dream” (not the wise men) who realized what the king was plotting, and took the family into exile in Egypt until it was safe to return (after Herod’s death, presumably). But not until after Herod had launched a genocidal pogrom on all the recent first-born sons in Bethlehem, while Jesus and his family were safe in Egypt. But it is obvious, from the frequent allusions to Old Testament prophecies, that the author was fashioning his storyline to fit the prophecies. So the chances are that it is all hagiographic balderdash!