In the first century AD, the Roman historian Josephus wrote that in that time “there spread over all the Orient the belief that it was fated for men coming from Judea to rule the world.” Another Roman historian of the first century AD named Tacitus wrote that “there was a firm persuasion that at this very time the East was to grow powerful, and rulers from Judea would acquire universal empire.”
Scholars tell us such expectations developed because learned men throughout the east had uncovered in the writings of the people of Israel a prophecy in the book of Numbers which stated that “a star will come out of Jacob, a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Since stars and scepters were symbols of royalty, this led to the speculation that something wonderful was about to happen, that this something wonderful was about to happen in Israel, and that this something wonderful that was about to happen in Israel would change the world.