Quite right joe f . I have also heard the suggestion that they magi were influential men from Babylonia perhaps influenced themselves from Daniel and the Jewish community succeeding him which provided the expectation of the coming king from the scriptures. The idea of their being kings may come from Isaiah 60 v 3      And the Gentiles shall come to thy light , and kings to the brightness of thy rising                This would also fit with the supernatural perhaps star appearing in the east and guiding them somehow to Bethlehem