The Star of Bethlehem

[Pox Eclipse]

Matthew 2:1-2 :: King James Version (KJV)

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,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

According to this scripture, the Wise Men came from the east, towards Jerusalem; this means they were traveling towards the west. However, they state they saw the Star in the east. How did the star guide them to the Manger, when they were traveling in the opposite direction?

[jamesglewisf]

From "The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Matthew 1-7"

That the magi were not following the star is clear from the fact that they had to inquire about where Jesus was born. They saw His star in the east, but there is no evidence that it continued to shine or that it led them to Jerusalem. It was not until they were told of the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah (2:5-6) that the star reappeared and then guided them not only to Bethlehem but to the exact place "where the Child was" (v. 9).

Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem, so it is unlikely that they would have been following the star when they went to Jerusalem. It is more likely that they saw the star in the east as a sign, and then they decided to go to Jerusalem where they could find the "king of the Jews." Once they got there, it appears that they could find no one who knew anything of the birth. When they asked Herod, he had to inquire of the scribes and chief priests of where the Christ child "was to be born." They quoted Micah 5:2 to Herod. Herod then sent the magi to Bethlehem. That was when the star reappeared and guided them to Jesus.

[jamesglewisf]

Here is the whole passage in the New American Standard version, which is supposed to be the most literal word-for-word translation.

Matthew 2:1-11
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."
3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he {began} to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet,
6 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler, who will shepherd My people Israel.'"
7 Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found {Him,} report to me, that I too may come and worship Him."
9 And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was.
10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
(NAS)

Micah 5:2
2 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, {too} little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity."
(NAS)

[jamesglewisf]

A more problematic interpretation is that they first saw the star in the east, and then it led them to Jerusalem. But why would it lead them to Jerusalem and then stop. Why would they then have to inquire and be told to go to Bethlehem? And then why would it appear and lead them directly to the child. If the star had led them from the east, it would have just taken them straight to Jesus in Bethlehem.

[Pox Eclipse]

OK, I can accept that at the time the Wise Men first saw the star in the east, it was a sign of Christ's birth (though how they determined this is not said). They travelled to Jerusalem (why Jerusalem is not explained), and were sent on to Bethlehem by Herod.

Here is the tricky part; Bethlehem lies to the south and west of Jerusalem. Matthew 2:9 says:

9 And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was.

How did the star that was in the east when the first saw it, now appear in the southwest when they left Jerusalem to find Jesus? Not to mention, that it stood still over the place where He lay?

[jamesglewisf]

Good questions.

If the Holy Spirit can overshadow Mary and make a virgin pregnant with the Son of God, then He can make a star move from some place in the east to Bethlehem, and then make it stand still over the location of Jesus.

If you are going to dismiss the supernatural, then you are dismissing Jesus and the Bible because Jesus is God incarnate, and the Bible is His word.

[dreuby]

Matthew 2:2 "... for we saw his star in the east"

I've taken this to mean that the magi were in the east, from where the star was visible. The star itself wasn't necessarily in the east, just visible from there.