Midian\Ephah\Sheba Ephah is a son of Midian, who is a descendant of Abraham. So this Isaiah text is describing a tribal territory identified with the tribes from Abraham’s descendants. This is a region that would have likely been known as a source for frankincense and maybe myrrh. Sheba is a region known for its gold and spices. This ties them to the gifts described in the Matthew text.
Tarshish A remote region used as an example to show how far away other rulers would come from to offer tribute to the king of the Israelites.
Gold/Frankincense/Myrrh—Gold is a symbol of royalty. This is a reference to the fact that Jesus will be seen as a king among kings. Frankincense is a perfume that would have been used in sacred rituals by priests, alluding to Jesus’s role as a spiritual leader as well. Myrrh is an oil that was often used to anoint bodies at the time of burial, so this is a reference to the significance of Jesus’s death.
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