The Other Wise Man facts for kids

The Other Wise Man is a short story or novel written by Henry van Dyke. It was first published in 1895 and has been printed many times since then. The story adds to the famous tale of the Biblical Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, who visited Jesus after his birth.

This book edition was published by Harper & Brothers.

The Story of Artaban

This story introduces a "fourth" wise man named Artaban. He was a priest of the Magi from ancient Persia. Like the other wise men, Artaban saw special signs in the stars. These signs told him that a new King had been born among the Jewish people.

Artaban's Journey Begins

Artaban decided to travel to see this new ruler. He carried three valuable gifts for the child: a beautiful sapphire, a bright ruby, and a very precious pearl. He planned to meet the other three wise men and travel with them.

Unexpected Delays and Sacrifices

On his way to meet the others, Artaban stopped to help a man who was dying. Because of this kind act, he was late and missed the caravan of the other wise men. Since he couldn't cross the desert alone with just a horse, he had to sell one of his treasures, the sapphire. He used the money to buy camels and supplies for his journey.

Arriving Too Late

Artaban continued his trip, but he arrived in Bethlehem too late. Jesus and his parents had already fled to Egypt to escape danger. While in Bethlehem, Artaban saved a child's life. To do this, he had to sell another of his treasures, the ruby.

Years of Searching and Helping Others

Artaban then traveled to Egypt and many other countries. He spent 33 years searching for Jesus. During all these years, he kept performing many acts of kindness and charity. He helped people in need wherever he went.

The Final Encounter

After decades of searching, Artaban arrived in Jerusalem. This was just in time for the crucifixion of Jesus. He used his last treasure, the pearl, to save a young woman from being sold into slavery. Soon after, he was hit by a falling roof tile and was about to die. He felt sad because he thought he had failed to find Jesus.

But then, a voice spoke to him. It said, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." This message meant that all his acts of kindness to others were like acts of kindness to Jesus himself. Artaban died feeling peaceful and joyful. His treasures, given to help others, were accepted, and the Other Wise Man finally found his King.

Other Story Versions

The story of The Other Wise Man has been told in many different ways over the years.

• It has been made into plays several times.
• There have been television movies based on the story. One famous version, The Fourth Wise Man, starred Martin Sheen in 1985.
• An animated cartoon version was made in 1989.
• Music pieces like an oratorio and operas have been created from the story.
• A simpler version of the tale was written for children in 2007.
• A painting of Artaban was made by Scottish artist Peter Howson in 2013.

A Star Named Artaban

A very large and famous star sapphire gemstone is called the Star of Artaban. It was named after the wise man in this story. You can see it today at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

See also

In Spanish: Artabán para niños