{Then Herod privily called the wise men} (	ote H(8872)(9369)d(8873)
lathrai kalesas tous magous). He had manifestly not told members
of the Sanhedrin why he was concerned about the Messiah. So he
conceals his motives to the Magi. And yet he "learned of them
carefully" (ekrib(9373)en), "learned exactly" or "accurately." He
was anxious to see if the Jewish prophecy of the birthplace of
the Messiah agreed with the indications of the star to the Magi.
He kept to himself his purpose. The time of the appearing star
(	on chronon tou phainomenou asteros) is not "the time when the
star appeared," but the age of the star's appearance.