Star of Bethlehem

What was the Star of Bethlehem and what did the wise men or Magi actually see?!

Well, to be honest no one really knows! But there are many theories including comets, super novas, a conjunctions of planets or something entirely supernatural! (An angel with a flashlight?!?!)

There are only 12 verses in the Bible about the wise men and the star!

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.'

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied, 'for this is what the prophet has written: "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.'

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Matthew 2:1-12

So what was the Star?

The wise men or Magi came from an area which is now in either Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia or the Yemen (then known as Persia, Arabia and Sheba). They're often called the 'Three Kings', but the Bible doesn't say how many there were, or that they were even kings! They became three because of the gifts the brought with them.

They were indeed 'wise men'. The Magi were 'Magupati', a title given to priests in a sect of the ancient persian religions such as Zoroastrianism. Today we'd called them astrologers. Back then astronomy and astrology were part of the same overall studies (and 'science') and went hand in hand with each other. The magi would have followed the patterns of the stars religiously. They would have also probably been very rich and held high esteem in their own society and by people who weren't from their country or religion. Find out more about the Magi in the Christmas Story.

They had seen an unusual new star in the sky, and knew that it told of the birth of a special King in Israel. But what did they see? The Bible says they 'saw it in the east' and then when they were in Jerusalem that it 'went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was'.

A very accurate translation of 'saw it in the east' is 'in the first light of dawn', so not just in the East, but early in the morning. And when the Magi were in Jerusalem it would have been in the south, over Bethlehem.

This theory has been made very popular by Prof David Hughes who lectures in astronomy at Sheffield University in the UK. It was originally written about by the Astronomer Johannes Kepler in 1603, but fell out of favor when Keppler had some rather unusual ideas later in his life!

The constellation of Pisces (the Fishes) had a special meaning in ancient Persian astronomy and astrology. It was the sign of Israel and of Kings. Jupiter was the Royal planet and Saturn represented old rulers. So a new 'star' being made of Jupiter and Saturn in this constellation could have meant a great deal!

There was a 'triple conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces in 7BC (-6). First in May, looking East from Persia/Babylon; then in September/October, looking West over Jerusalem/Bethlehem from Persia/Babylon; and finally in December, looking South directly over Bethlehem if you were in Jerusalem!

There's also records in ancient writings from Babylon that the Magi, of that time, knew about the triple conjunction.

    Jupiter and Saturn on 29th May 7BC
    Jupiter and Saturn on 29th September 7BC
    Jupiter and Saturn on 4th December 7BC


Jupiter and Moon in Aries

This theory was made by Dr Michael Molmar, a very experienced astronomer from New York, USA.

Dr Molnar collects coins and other historical objects with astronomical and astrological connections. He found, and purchased, a Roman coin from about 6AD that had the symbol of Aries the Ram on it, looking back at a bright star.

In Roman astrology (which the Magi would have also known) Aries is the symbol of Israel. Dr Molnar has found a new 'star' made of Jupiter and the moon in Aries. Jupiter was the Ruler planet in Roman astrology (as in Persian astrology) and the moon meant births (especially of new kings).

It happened at dawn, in the east, on 17th April 6BC (-5) and was very unusual. It's what's called an 'occultation' which is a special kind of eclipse which involves the earth, moon, sun and a planet. Because it was dawn, the glare of the sun would have made it quite hard to see, but the Magi would have known it was happening because they had studied the sky so well!

Fairly recently, there has been a new theory by a lawyer from Texas. Rick Larson has done a lot of research and found a new and pretty convincing contender! He looked at old manuscripts and found that the date of Herod's death might have been copied incorrectly and could well have been in 1BC not 4BC! This gives us another three years to look for stars!

Mr Larson found that there was a triple conjunction of Jupiter and the star Regulus (which is in the constellation of Leo the Lion), followed by a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus in Leo ninth months later. And then six months after that Jupiter 'stops' (goes into retrograde) in Virgo.

It starts in September 3BC (-2) with the first meeting of Jupiter and Regulus (looking East). Regulus is the brightest star in Leo and thought to be very special. The country/nation of Israel is often referred to as the 'Lion of Judah' so this meeting would have been important. Then nine months (the time of a pregnancy) later in June 2BC (-1) Jupiter and Venus (the planet of mothers) meet in Leo (in the West over Israel) and would have been a very bright 'star' indeed!

Then on 25th December 2BC if you were in Jerusalem looking south, towards Bethlehem, Jupiter would be 'standing' in Virgo the constellation of the Virgin (Mary being a virgin)!

The three images below show the first conjunction of Jupiter and Regulus, the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus and Jupiter being over Bethlehem.

    Jupiter and Regulus on 15th September 3BC
    Jupiter and Regulus on 25th February 2BC
    Jupiter and Regulus on 25th December 2BC

You can read lots more about Rick Larson's theory on the Bethlehem Star website.

Does this mean that there were three Stars? Well I don't see why not! The star marked the coming of the Son of God to earth, so I'm sure God would want to put on show!

I see no reason all of the three theories can't be the Star of Bethlehem. If you start with Prof Hughes/Kepler star, it means 'There's going to be a new King who will rule over Israel' then shortly afterwards a new star appears (Dr Molnar) saying 'And a new King over the Roman world' (which was then most of the known world!) and then finishing with Rick Larson's it confirms this again saying 'The King is being born' (or has been born); GO TO ISRAEL NOW!

The Bible also says not to use astrology! However, it does talk of 'signs from God in the sky' but not to worship them or let them totally control your life (like astrology). You should worship God who made the stars, not the stars themselves!

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

Psalm 19:1-4

Some people also think that the star might have been something created by God, especially to guide the Wise men and that there isn't a scientific explanation.

As a Christian, I believe God could have done this. However, I think the star was probably a conjunction of planets, or something similar, that God planned into creation to mark the birth of Jesus, His son!

Main Article: Christmas Traditions and Customs Around the World.