<<< Perhaps they in their homeland had
prophecies that spoke of a "new star" that would
arise to signal the birth of the Christ child, and
that this child would be born in the region
around Jerusalem>>>
Since this took place at a time when the Jews of the Diaspora extended to
the east (and had done so for hundreds of years), it is also possible
that they had read the words of Balaam as recorded in the Torah:
"A star shall come forth from Jacob,
And a scepter shall rise from Israel" (Numbers 24:17).
Thus, it would only be natural that, having seen the star, they would
make their way to the capital city of Israel and inquire of her King
where this newborn Monarch was to be found.
It was only when they inquired that they learned the prophecy of the
Scriptures which forefold of Bethlehem as the birthplace of the One "from
of old."