HEROD soon realised that the magi were not coming back, and inferred that they, at any rate, believed they had found a legitimate claimant to his throne.
Knowing that the star had been visible for two years, Herod had every male child in Bethlehem under that age murdered.* He had Zechariah, father of John the Baptist and the husband of Mary’s aunt Elizabeth, killed in the Temple itself, when he would not reveal where his infant son was hidden. Simeon, the respected prophet who died in peace after holding Jesus in his arms and publicly declaring he was Israel’s long-awaited King, was refused a proper burial; but Mary and Joseph smuggled Jesus to safety in Egypt.
As for the magi, they had set out from the east believing that the stars were far-off gods who controlled events on earth. They arrived home having found God lying in a Bethlehem manger, while the jubilant and obedient heavens declared the glory of their infant Maker.*
This is quite in character. Herod issued instructions (which were ignored) to murder dozens of people when he himself died, just so that Jerusalem would appear to be in mourning for him.
See Psalm 19:1-6. At Mattins on Christmas Day we sing:
“THY Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shone upon the world with the light of knowledge: for thereby they who adored the stars through a star were taught to worship thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know thee the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory to thee!”For the Sun of Righteousness, see Malachi 4:2, and for the Dayspring, Luke 1:78.
Précis
When the magi did not report back to him, Herod guessed they had found their ‘prince’. In a panic, he had all the infant children of Bethlehem murdered, and anyone who spoke of this prince. But Jesus had been spirited away to safety, and the magi had gone home to Persia with a totally new outlook on the stars. (59 / 60 words)
When the magi did not report back to him, Herod guessed they had found their ‘prince’. In a panic, he had all the infant children of Bethlehem murdered, and anyone who spoke of this prince. But Jesus had been spirited away to safety, and the magi had gone home to Persia with a totally new outlook on the stars.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, despite, otherwise, since, unless, until, whereas, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Glory. Heir. Set.
2 Claimant. Gold. Realize.
3 He. Without. Year.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Hold. 2. Stable. 3. Present. 4. Lead. 5. Cave. 6. Lie. 7. Arm. 8. Long. 9. Refuse.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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