The Magi and the Star

The Magi and the Star

Miscellaneous Research

Matt. 2:2we saw his star when it rose. The wise men would likely have been familiar with OT prophecy through interaction with Jews in Babylon, and they may have remembered Balaam's prophecy that “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Num. 24:17). This was understood by Jews to point to a messianic deliverer (e.g., Dead Sea Scrolls, Damascus Document 7.18–21; Testimonia 9–13). The movement of the star (Matt. 2:9) suggests that it is not a natural phenomenon (e.g., a comet, supernova, or conjunction of planets) but was supernatural, perhaps a guiding angel that appeared as a star, or perhaps some specially created heavenly phenomenon that had the brightness of a star. have come to worship him. The wise men likely traveled with a large number of attendants and guards for the long journey, which would have taken several weeks. For example, if they had come from Babylon by the main trade route of about 800 miles (1,288 km), averaging 20 miles (32 km) per day, the trip would have taken about 40 days.

Matt. 2:9the star... went before them. Bethlehem was only 6 miles (9.7 km) from Jerusalem, almost directly south, so this implies very specific, localized guidance from the traveling star, which came to rest over the young Jesus' specific location.

Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible:

A.The wise men arrived in Jerusalem and inquired of Herod about the recent birth of the King of the Jews. Here are several questions that may be asked.

1.Who were these wise men? It is thought that they were perhaps a group of religious astronomers living in the Mesopotamia area.

2.How did they associate the star with Christ? There are several possibilities. In the fourteenth century,b.c., a prophet from their area named Balaam had spoken of this star. (SeeNum. 24:17.) They also had the writings of Daniel, who had been prime minister of both Babylon and Persia some six centuries before Christ. Daniel, of course, wrote much about the Second Coming.

3.Why did they come? These men were doubtless acquainted with the various religions of the East and knew the emptiness of them all. It would seem they followed this star to find peace and purpose for their lives.

4.When did they arrive in Bethlehem? It was perhaps not until some two years after the angels announced his birth to the shepherds. He is referred to as “the young child” (2:9,11,13,14) and is not a tiny babe at this time. When Herod later attempted to destroy this unknown Babe, he had all children in the Bethlehem area two years and under slain. (2:16).

5.How many wise men came? There is absolutely no evidence that there were three. On the contrary, the group may have numbered from two to several hundred or more.

6.Was the star a regular star? Perhaps it was a special heavenly light created by God for this specific purpose and not some remote fiery globe of gas a million light years removed from our earth.

C.Herod sends the wise men there and asks them to report back to him, pretending to be desirous of worshiping him also. In reality he was already planning to kill him.

Note: The Jewish leaders had degenerated to such a level that they were unwilling to trot down the road a few miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and see if their Messiah had really come! But here was a group of sincere Gentiles who had traveled across a hostile and extended desert to find him.

D.Upon being led by the star to his very home, they fell at his feet and offered him their gifts.

1.They gave him gold, which spoke of his deity.

2.They gave him frankincense, which spoke of his humanity.

3.They gave him myrrh, which spoke of his future sufferings.

4.Old Testament Prophecy Fulfillment Number 7, That he would be worshiped by wise men and presented with gifts. (ComparePs. 72:10 andIsa. 60:3,6,9 withMt. 2:11.) This prophecy, given by Isaiah, was only partly fulfilled at his first coming. The gift of myrrh (symbol of his suffering) was not included by Isaiah. The reason is that the prophecy will have its ultimate fulfillment during the Second Coming, when all nations will offer him presents which speak of his glorious humanity and unblemished deity. Myrrh willnot be offered, however, at that time, for his sufferings will be done forever.

Adler Planetarium “Star of Wonder” show:

For 2,000 years, what exactly was in the sky has piqued the curiosity of scientists and ordinary stargazers alike.

The wise men, who were Zoroastrians (priests from Mesopotamia), took symbolic movements of the heavens very seriously, and might have been convinced of the great event of the birth of a Jewish king because of a series of celestial events. More than any other aspect of the Christmas story, the star in the East, briefly mentioned in the Gospel of St. Matthew, has spurred efforts to find corroborating evidence in history and science.

The current "Star of Wonder," first produced in the 1980s, looks at the heavenly light in the sky that appeared to guide the magis and asks: Could it have been an exploding star, a brilliant comet or an unusual grouping of planets? New research in recent years has moved beyond these explanations.

In 1999, a book by astronomer Michael Molnar, The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi, added a twist by looking at what would have been astrologically significant to someone 2,000 years ago.

His study of ancient texts showed nothing would have played a bigger role announcing a divine birth in Judea than a lunar eclipse of Jupiter in the constellation Aries. Computer calculations showed an eclipse of this sort did occur.

"What we need to do here is take the best modern scholarship and weave together a coherent explanation," said Marvin Bolt, Adler's vice president of collections. "We will rethink the show and take a look at not just the astronomy and astrology but also the Gospel of Matthew. We want to use all the pieces of the puzzle."

Tying science and religious beliefs together can sometimes be a touchy subject, and from time to time people have objected to the sky show, Bolt said. But the story of the Star of Bethlehem is part of our cultural history, and he thinks the majority simply wants to know more about it.

“The foundation of this compelling story has existed for centuries,” Bolt said. “An interest in both its theological and narrative elements makes for a more enriched experience. What goes into great storytelling can also make a great planetarium sky show.”

Kepler searched for the Star of Bethlehem: De anno natali Christi, 1614

10. David W. Beyer, "Josephus Re-Examined: Unraveling the Twenty-Second Year of Tiberius", in Chronos, Kairos, Christos II, edited by E. Jerry Vardaman (Macon: Mercer University Press, 1998) ISBN 0-86554-582-0.

But modern scholarship has deepened our understanding of Josephus' manuscripts. A recent study was made of the earliest manuscripts of Josephus' writings held by the British Library in London, and the American Library of Congress. It revealed a surprise that allows us to target our mathematical telescopes better than could Kepler (10). It turns out that a copying error was a primary cause of the confusion about the date of Herod's death. A printer typesetting the manuscript of Josephus’Antiquities messed up in the year 1544. Every single Josephus manuscript in these libraries dating from before 1544 supports the inference that Herod passed in 1 BC. Excellent scholarship confirms that date (11). Knowing this, and since Herod died shortly after Christ's birth, our investigation turns to the skies of 3 and 2 BC.

• So, we have the second factor allowing us to “find” the Star today. We now know which years we should examine the skies.
• Computers. One more factor accounts for your hearing about the Star now instead of long ago: computers. When Kepler calculated a sky map, it was laborious. Plenty of pens and ink. And when the calculations were complete, he had a picture of the sky at a single moment of time. If he had selected the wrong day to search for the Star, he might find nothing. More pens and ink. But Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion are playthings for a computer. The equations are solved almost instantaneously by modern astronomy software available to anyone for about $50 (12).
• With software which incorporates Kepler's equations, we can create a computer model of the universe. In minutes we can produce thousands of the sky maps which were a great labor before computers. We can animate the universe in real time at any speed we choose, make months pass in moments or wind back the clock. We can view the sky precisely as it moved over Jerusalem 2000 years ago.
• And when we look up, examining the correct years, we find remarkable things.

Astrology vs. Astronomy

Influence & control vs. Seasons, times and signs

Thermometer – tells you how hot or cold you are but does not make you hotter or colder.

1 (cont'd) Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

• Who are these magi? The word, 'magi,' which is sometimes translated 'wise men,' is the root from which we get our word 'magic.' This doesn't make them all magicians, in the present sense of the word. Some of them were learned men in general, who studied the physical world and were knowledgeable about many things, including the stars. Magi were often court astronomers who were consulted by the rulers of the day for guidance in affairs of state. This was also true in much earlier times. For example, during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, some 500 years earlier, King Nebuchadnezar kept a stable of court magi. Nebuchadnezer made the Jewish prophet Daniel Chief Magus of his court when Daniel was able to interpret a dream the other magi could not (16).
• There were magi of various schools, and some were more respected than others. We know something of a particularly prestigious school of magi from the writings of Philo. Philo was a Jewish philosopher and contemporary of Jesus who lived in the large Jewish community of Alexandria, Egypt. Philo wrote in praise of an Eastern school of magi and their great learning and understanding of the natural world (17). This school may have descended from the Babylonian magi of Daniel's day. Matthew does report that the Wise Men were from the East, and Babylon is east of Judea. It was at one time part of the Persian Empire, which ties in with Philo. So it is possible the Wise Men were of this prestigious Eastern school. This would account for Herod giving them an audience, and for his strong reaction to the news they brought.

2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?

• The Magis' question gives us three points for our list of qualifications for the Star. Whatever happened in the sky indicated 1) birth, 2) kingship and 3) Jews. It also gives us a clue about the Magi. They were interested in things Jewish.

2 (cont'd) We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

• When the wise men said “we saw his star in the east,” they didn't mean “we saw his star while we were in the East.” The Greek text here says the Star was “en anatole,” meaning they saw his star rising in the east. That’s what all but polar stars do, because of the rotation of the Earth. Stars rise in the east, but not all celestial objects do that. So, that's another qualification for the Star: 4) it must rise in the east like most other stars.
• The motive of the Magi in coming to Jerusalem tells us a great deal more about them. They wanted to worship a Jewish king. It can’t be proven from the text, but it is quite possible that some of the Magi were of Jewish descent, perhaps a Jewish remnant from Daniel’s day. This would help explain why a Jewish philosopher, Philo, would admire them, why they were watching the sky for things Jewish, why they wanted to worship a Jewish king, and why they were taken so seriously by Herod and Jewish chief priests. If they were not Jews, then they must have been most impressive magi indeed, as Jews of the time were deeply disdainful of pagans and their beliefs (18).

RE: Who are the wise men?:

Says Philo at QUOD OMN. PROB. (74): "Among the Persians there is a body of the Magi, who, investigating the works of nature for the purpose of becoming acquainted with the truth, do at their leisure become initiated themselves and initiate others in the divine virtues by very clear explanations."

Ancient Writings point to Messiah:

Tacitus, The Histories (Book V), writes: "...most [of the Jews] firmly believed that their ancient priestly writings contained the prophecy that this was the very time when the East should grow strong and that men starting from Judea should possess the world."
In De Vita Caesarum: Divus Vespasian, Suetonius records that "[t]here had spread over all the Orient an old and established belief that it was fated at that time for men coming from Judaea to rule the world."
He goes on to say that Vespasian was so concerned with this prophecy of the Christ that he attempted to exterminate the entire Davidic family line—even helpless old men were killed.
Josephus appears not to have believed the prophecy, but he records that it had great influence on others. In Wars (6.5.4), he even states his belief that the prediction was the cause of the first Jewish War against the Romans. "But now, what did most elevate [the Jews] in undertaking this war was an ambiguous oracle that was also found in their sacred writings, how 'about that time, one from their own country should become governor of the habitable earth.' The Jews took this prediction to belong to themselves in particular, and many of the wise men were thereby deceived in their determination."
The Pharisees of Jesus' day were plainly on the lookout for the Christ. The Book of John 1.14-27.
Upon meeting Jesus, Andrew immediately told others that he had found the Christ. The Book of John 1.41.
Even the Samaritan woman at the well had this on her mind. She told Jesus, “I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming.” The Book of John 4.25.

Earlier Magi announcement:

For example, about 60 years earlier, in 63 BC, magi made a presentation to the Roman Senate. They described celestial portents indicating that a new ruler had been born. Evidently regretting that news, the Senate responded by ordering the death of baby boys in the candidate age range (21).

What was the Star?

1. It signified birth.
2. It signified kingship.
3. It had a connection with the Jewish nation.
4. It rose in the east, like other stars.
5. It appeared at a precise time.
6. Herod didn't know when it appeared.
7. It endured over time.
8. It was ahead of the Magi as they went south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
9. It stopped over Bethlehem.

Knowing these qualifications, we are in a position to disqualify most astronomical phenomena as being the Star. Remember that if any of the nine Biblical features of the Star is absent, then the phenomenon we are examining may be interesting, but isn't likely the Biblical Star (22).

SOMETHING IN THE "NORMAL" NIGHT SKY which was startling when explained. That is the hypothesis for the Star we developed in Setting the Stage. Our process of elimination has knocked out meteors, comets and novae as candidates. That leaves planets.

A triple conjunction between Jupiter (the planet of kings) and Regulus (the star of kings) took place in 3/2 BC from September to June, occurring in the constellation of Leo (Judah is the tribe of the lion) with Virgo in the background.

ANOTHER INTERPRETATION:

• Could the purchase of an ancient coin have led to an important clue about the Star of Bethlehem? The above illustration is a Roman coin from Antioch, Syria which shows the zodiacal sign, Aries the Ram. In trying to understand the meaning behind this coin, I found that Aries was the sign of the Jews. Realizing that this is where ancient stargazers would have watched for the Star of Bethlehem, I embarked on searching for the celestial event that signified the birth of the Messiah in Judea.
• Superposed on the photograph of the coin is what I found: Jupiter underwent two occultations ("eclipses") by the Moon in Aries in 6 BC. Jupiter was the regal "star" that conferred kingships - a power that was amplified when Jupiter was in close conjunctions with the Moon. The second occultation on April 17 coincided precisely when Jupiter was “in the east,” a condition mentioned twice in the biblical account about the Star of Bethlehem. In August of that year Jupiter became stationary and then “went before” through Aries where it became stationary again on December 19, 6 BC. This is when the regal planet “stood over.” - a secondary royal portent also described in the Bible. In particular, there is confirmation from a Roman astrologer that the conditions of April 17, 6 BC were believed to herald the birth of a divine, immortal, and omnipotent person born under the sign of the Jews, which we now know was Aries the Ram. Furthermore, the coins of Antioch and ancient astrological documents show that there was indeed a Star of Bethlehem as reported in the biblical account of Matthew.

ANOTHER INTERPRETATION: