Daniel penned the words in his book of the Bible that the Messiah would come in seven sevens and sixty-two sevens … 483 years after the beginning of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. A group of men in the countries east of Israel, known as magi, began the countdown. For hundreds of years they kept a calendar for this event and passed it down from generation to generation. Gershom was one of the magi in Persia keeping a calendar. He adopted a young man named Myrad, when Myrad’s mother died, and taught him about God and the ways of the Hebrews. Myrad had become an apprentice to be a magus like Gershom and had had a dream of seeing a bright star in the west. This dream proved Myrad indeed had been blessed with the gift. Gershom is killed in the Roman queen’s attempt to take over the Persian government from her husband the king. He leaves three instructions for Myrad to follow … buy a horse, go to Rhagae and find a certain man. Myrad was determined to follow Gershom’s instructions, even with his handicap. He was born with a club foot and had much difficulty getting around. On his way, Myrad meets up with a camel caravan, finds favor with the trader and travels with them for protection.
Upon arriving in Rhagae, Myrad finds the magus he is looing for, along with several other magi gathered for the same purpose. Together they set out with the camel trader and his caravan to follow the star. They all agree this event is too early according to the calendar, but it is intriguing none the less, and they feel compelled to go. With an overthrow of the government and war looming, will they make this treacherous journey and find their long-awaited Messiah?
Patrick Carr brings us a captivating tale in THE END OF THE MAGI. Based on the Holy Bible, he weaves a fictional tale of the adventures of a group of magi from the east looking for the Messiah. Myrad is a strong main character even though he doesn’t see himself as strong. He has great character traits and these help him find triumph over tragedy. After being abandoned in the desert, hunted down like an animal, caught in a flood, drugged and caught up in a war, he continues his journey for his adoptive father. He is surrounded by supporting characters with quite an assortment of personalities, yet each has a role to fill in the story line and in Myrad’s journey. THE END OF THE MAGI is a great holiday read and gives us much to think about in our journey to know God better.
Following his vision of the coming Messiah, the prophet Daniel creates a select group of men who will count down the calendar to the arrival of Israel's promised king. Centuries later, as the day nears, Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are put to death by a ruthless Parthian queen.
Having grabbed only a few possessions, Myrad escapes the city, and searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, he tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is hiding secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable traveler, an epic journey filled with peril, close escapes, and dangerous battles begins.
With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can't forget and the promise that the world will never be the same.
Excerpt
Myrad felt panic shooting through his chest. The king had found the weakest link among them, and he leaned forward wearing a victor’s smile.
“I have a report from the Roman centurion who searched your caravan in Antioch,” the king went on. “Among the silk you carried, he also found a large quantity of gold and spices, strange gifts for a simple visit to the land of your fathers.”
Hakam didn’t reply, but his face reddened, and beneath the onslaught of Herod’s gaze he began to tremble.
“What brought you to Judea, magus?” Herod pressed.
Hakam’s head came up, losing its deferential cast, until he stared at the king eye to eye. “We received a dream from the Most High God.”
Herod leaned forward, all signs of pain from his affliction absent. “What was this dream that brought magi all the way to Judea with such extravagant gifts?”
The courtyard stilled until nothing but the soft crackle of the burning braziers could be heard. Myrad closed his eyes and prayed Hakam would find some answer that would satisfy the king and let them live. The tone of his first words dashed his hopes.
“A dream of the voice of God.” Hakam paused, but the lot was cast. There was no way to keep Herod from the whole truth now. Hakam’s voice sharpened until it cut the air like a Roman gladius. “We have come searching for the one who has been born king of the Hebrews. We have seen His star in the east and have followed it here that we may worship Him.”
Myrad couldn’t breathe, and sudden spots swam in his vision. The fool had just sentenced them all to death.
Herod’s laughter, caustic and tinged with physical distress, filled the courtyard. “And this is the truth you thought to keep from me? By the time the child is grown, I will be dead.” His laughter scaled upward until it echoed among the buildings. “I wish your god luck in finding one who can wrest Judea from the grip of Rome.” Then his mirth softened and he became dismissive, waving away the magi and Walagash’s company. “Come, my guests, let us eat and celebrate the peace, however temporary, between our kingdoms.”
Myrad and the others were escorted to an area to one side, where servants brought them dishes of food and wineskins. After a few moments, the tension in Herod’s courtyard eased and Myrad was able to breathe freely again. The meal stretched for hours into the evening, the Romans showing no signs of retiring.
At one point during the meal, Myrad glanced toward the dais only to find it empty. “He’s gone,” he said to Masista.
The magus nodded. “The king left an hour ago.”
Despite his dislike of the man, Myrad found himself seeking Masista’s reassurance. “Are we in danger?”
The magus’s smile held none of its usual superiority. “We were always in danger, but your friend Hakam has made sure that Herod sees us as an enemy.”
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