Astronomy,
The Magi,
and the
Story of the Star

The Gospel of Saint Matthew

Gospel of Matthew
Chapter 2, Revised Standard Version

1: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,

2: "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."

3: When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

4: and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5: They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet:

6: `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"

7: Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared;

8: and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."

9: When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was.

The Star of Bethlehem

Please note Matthew's reference to "his star" in chap 2 verse 2. Also please note in chap 2 verse 9 "the star...came to rest over the place where the child was." Could there have been some astronomical occurrance(s) which could explain these verses?

Since the event went unnoticed by the majority of "sages", including Herod's people, it must not have been spectacular, as well as anticipated. The Magi, well schooled in observing the stars, did notice the event and may have even anticipated it. Many scholars have ruled out comets and meteorites as possiblities, however a nova, supernova, or a conjunction of planets and/or stars might be plausible. The Magi, most probably people of the Medes and Persians, knew astronomy well enough to predict planetary motion long in advance but not neccessarily to predict a nova.

If Christ was born between 4 B.C. and 1 B.C., and there is ample evidence to support this, then there is a possibility that planet and star conjunctions and not a nova could have been responsible for sending wise sages on a long and perilous journey.

"In September of 3 B.C., Jupiter came into conjunction with Regulus, the star of kingship, the brightest star in the constellation of Leo. Leo was the constellation of kings, and it was associated with the Lion of Judah. The royal planet approached the royal star in the royal constellation representing Israel." (Chester, 1996)

Did the star-Jupiter-stop? Over Bethlehem? All of the planets show a retrograde motion, an apparent reversal of their long trek through the heavens. If you were in Jerusalem at the time of 2 B.C. you would have noticed Jupiter stop directly over Bethlehem, a town just a few miles to the south. The date of this stationary point would have been our December 25, during Hanukkah, the festival of lights.

Should we take this account of "the star" and the wise men seriously? Herod did!

REFERENCE: Chester, Craig, 1996, The Star of Bethlehem, Imprimus, Dec. 1996, Vol. 25, N0. 12.