Arun Kumar Engineer, Chennai, India

The wise men were evidently from the contemporary parts of Babylon since the greek Bible reads it "Magi", which refers to experts in astronomy and other scientific areas. They fourished well in the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar. (refer book of Daniel). Since the Bible refers it "East", I suspect it might also refer India as well, since we have manuscripts of great Indian sage named "Bogar" in his book called "Bogar sattha gaandam" song number 219, he refers that he had visited Judea and the child Jesus and finally he refers Jesus as God, in that song. 

Now coming to the understanding about the star, Im quoting from the website http://biblecommenter.com/matthew/2-2.htm where Barne states that it was not to be supposed to be a mere star, but a meteor or something else.

"His star - Among the ancients the appearance of a new star or comet was regarded as an omen of some remarkable event. Many such appearances are recorded by the Roman historians at the birth or death of distinguished men. Thus they say that at the death of Julius Caesar a comet appeared in the heavens and shone seven days. These wise men also considered this as an evidence that the long-expected Prince was born. It is possible that they had been led to this belief by the prophecy of Balaam, Numbers 24:17, "There shall come a star out of Jacob," etc. What this star was is not known. There have been many conjectures respecting it, but nothing is revealed concerning it. We are not to suppose that it was what we commonly mean by a star. The stars are vast bodies fixed in the heavens, and it is absurd to suppose that one of them was sent to guide the wise men. It is most probable that it was a luminous appearance, or meteor, such as we now see sometimes shoot from the sky, which the wise men saw, and which directed them to Jerusalem. It is possible that the same thing is meant which is mentioned by Luke 2:9; "The glory of the Lord shone round about them;" i. e., (see the note on this place), a great light appeared shining around them. That light might have been visible from afar, and might have been seen by the wise men in the East."

The greek Bible translates star as "astera" which means "to gleam". "Gleam" means "Brief light". Therefore we might conclude that they should have lost sight of it as soon as they had set journey to Bethlehem. Because if the star was more apparent, they might have pursued right to it, but, they perhaps reached the king's court instead (ch 2:2,3). Another evidence is that they were all excited to see the star they had seen when they started departing (vrs 10). When they saw the star for the second time, the star was moving (vrs 9), because the Bible says it was leading them the CEV version states that it "stopped" over the placed where the child was born. 

Concluding, there was difference between the star that appeared before they set to Bethlehem and the star which lead them after they had left Herod's palace. They did not recognize the child as "God the saviour", but some special king was born, so they wanted to humble themselves before Him, since the Greek Bible traslates the word "Worshipped", "proskunesai" which means a sort of humbling oneself before some royal king and perhaps not the form of worshipping God.

Comments invited.

August 12 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho

Matthew 2:1: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. 

Who were these wise men who followed a “star” from heaven that went before them and then stood where the child Jesus was born? The child being born of the Temple of the Holy Ghost, the wise men were led by the angel of the Lord who appeared as a star of heaven that led them to the Temple, and seeing the child they went down to their knees and worshiped Him. (Mat 2:11/Isa 60:6)

Scriptural evidence to the church is the Spirit of the Lord with His angels that led the God-fearing wise men to Bethlehem and then warned them to flee back to their own country another way. 

These wise men who came from the East were the descendants of the exiled house of Israel who hearkened to the voice of God and were willing to break free of the bonds of men which was a blessing to them. (Mat 2:8)

The God-fearing descendants today are led by these stars that are angels guiding our path (Psalm 91:11) to break free of the traditions of men revealing His Word. Just as Daniel was praying and confessing his sins and the sins of the people of Israel, for the holy mountain of God. (Dan 9:20)

Daniel 9:23: At the beginning of thy supplication the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

December 23 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report