Advent Reading - December 3

(Note:  Balack son of Zippor,
who was king of the Moabites,
sent for Balaam, prophet,
to put a curse on the army of Israel. 
At the command of the Lord,
Balaam gave this prophecy in his Fourth Oracle.)

I see Him, but now now;
I behold Him, but not near.
A Star shall rise out of Jacob,
and a Scepter shall rise up out of Israel.
(Numbers 24:17)

AC 9293 [3]

For it was known to the ancients
that all things correspond and are representative,
and consequently have a signification (meaning);
as is also evident from the most ancient books
and monuments of the Gentiles.
Consequently they knew
that gold, frankincense, and myrrh
signify the goods which are to be offered to God.
They also knew from their prophetic writings,
which were of the Ancient Church,
that the Lord was to come into the world,
and that a star would then appear to them,
of which star moreover Balaam,
who also was one of the sons of the East,
prophesied (Numbers 24:17; n. 3762, see below);
for a "star" signifies the knowledges
of internal good and truth,
which are from the Lord.

AC 3762 [5]

That the wise men from the east
who came to Jesus at His birth
were of those who were called the "sons of the east,"
is evident from the fact
that they were in the knowledge
that the Lord was to be born,
and that they knew of His advent by a star
which appeared to them in the east,
concerning which things we read in Matthew:

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
behold there came
wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying,
Where is He that is born King of the Jews?
for we have seen His star in the east,
and are come to worship Him.
(Matthew 2:1-2)

That from ancient times
such a prophetic knowledge had existed
among the sons of the east,
who were of Syria,
is evident from Balaam's prophecy
concerning the Lord's advent, in Moses:

I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not nigh
there shall arise a star out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise up out of Israel.
(Numbers 24:17).

That Balaam was from the land of the sons of the east,
that is, from Syria, is evident from these words:

Balaam uttered his enunciation and said,
Balak hath brought me from Syria,
out of the mountains of the east.
(Numbers 23:7)

Those wise men who came to Jesus at His birth
are called magi,
but wise men were so called at that time,
as is evident from many passages;
such as Gen. 41:8; Exod. 7:11; Dan. 2:27; 4:6, 7;
1 Kings 4:30; and from the Prophets throughout.