In the Gospel of Matthew, we read about Maji from the east that see the *Star* that points to the birth of the newborn king. > [!bible]+ [Matthew 2:1-9 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/40/2/) > 1. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men *from the east came to Jerusalem*, 2. saying, “Where is he who has been *born king of the Jews*? For we saw **his star** when *it rose* 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 shepherd my people Israel.’” 7. *Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had 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. After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, **the star** that they had seen when it ro*se went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.* %% #Matthew %% The word used in verse 2 and 9 is the same word that can be used for constellations, comments and other star phenomenon ([[@Whiton2018-ce]]). Do a study on this chapter you can find out some points that any sign or star has to meet to be the sign of the Maji: 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. Many theory over the years have been proposed to figure out what it could be, in hopes it may lead to the day Christ was born. Based on the passage above, it can not be a comet, Supernova, or supernatural star as it doesn't meet the above criteria. There is one star that does seem to match the account that Matthew gives- Jupiter. #### More Context For The Star Of The Messiah Before we go into the Star that the Magi saw, it is important to get some additional context from the Bible. For millennia the coming Messiah has been associated with the appearance of a star. One of the first references to a star showing the arrival of the Messiah is the words prophesied over Israel by the pagan sorcerer, Balaam, while we were encamped in the wilderness. > [!bible]+ [Numbers 24:17 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/4/24/) > 17. I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. %% #Numbers %% This passage has been used though history to show that a literal star will be associated with the Messiah, such in the recordings of the Dead Sea Scrolls ([[@Vermes2004-tj]]). > [!quote] > The star is the Interpreter of the Law ... as it is written, ‘A star has left Jacob, a staff has risen from Israel.’”6 Rabbi Akiva gave the name “Bar Kochba” to a rebel military leader named Shimon ben Kosiba, and then proclaimed him to be the Messiah ([[@Astor2010-lw]]). Similar sentiments are also recorded by Philo, the Peshitta, Targums Neofiti, Onkelos, Pseudo-Jonathan, and the Fragmentary Targum, as well as the testimonies of both Judah and Levi in The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs. Perhaps the most fascinating reference to this phenomenon is in the post-rabbinic midrash Aggadat HaMashiach: > [!quote] It is taught in the name of our Sages [that]... a star will emerge in the east. This is the star of the Messiah.... A star shall appear from the east and on top of it a rod of fire like a spear. The Gentile nations will claim “this star is ours,” but it is not so; rather, it pertains to Israel, as Scripture forecasts: “a star shall step forth from Jacob..." 9 10 The Jewish nation is composed of twelve ancient tribes. Jewish prophecy states that a particular tribe will bring forth the Messiah: the tribe of Judah. The symbol of Judah’s tribe is the lion. You can see these connections in an ancient prediction of Messiah’s coming found in the first book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis, Chapter 49: > [!bible] Genesis, Chapter 49 > 9 You are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness– who dares to rouse him? 10 The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. The lion/king association is confirmed in [Revelation 5:5](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.5.5) > [!bible]+ [Revelation 5:5 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/66/5/) > 5. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” %% #Revelation %% ### Jupiter, the Star Of Bethlehem Starting from the day given in [[The Star Of Jesus - The Day That Jesus Was Born|Revelation 12]] you will see that there is a number of astronomical sign that seem to match the account in Matthew—namely Jupiter in its retrograde motion. It circles the Sun far beyond Earth, in an orbit of about twelve years duration. In ancient times, planets like Jupiter were considered “wandering stars”. Near opposition, Jupiter will appear to go into retrograde motion for a period of about 121 days, moving backward through an angle of 9.9° before returning to prograde movement.[139] | Planet | Synodic Period (days) | Synodic Period (mean months) | Days in Retrogradation | | ------- | --------------------- | ---------------------------- | ---------------------- | | Jupiter | 399 | 13.1 | 121 | Jupiter’s movements in 3–2 BC present a strong case for it being the Star of the Magi, fulfilling all the key signs the Magi sought. Here’s how Jupiter meets each of the criteria detailed in Matthew's account: 1. **Signified Birth**: around September 11 3 B.C., a sequence of Jupiter’s movements began, coinciding with the Jewish New Year, Rosh ha-Shanah—a day associated with new beginnings and divine judgment. For the magi, the triple conjunction between Jupiter (the “King Planet”) and Regulus (the “King Star”) in the constellation Leo would have indicated the birth of a royal figure. The significance of Regulus cannot be overstated; known as the “King Star,” it was associated with rulership and kingship in multiple ancient cultures. The Babylonians called Regulus Sharu, which means ‘king.’ The Romans called Regulus Rex, which means ‘king.’ Positioned in Leo, the constellation representing the tribe of Judah, this alignment would have been a clear sign pointing to a Jewish king. It was the chief or head sign of the zodiac and had special importance in astrological circles ([[@Hastings2000-wp]]). 2. **Signified Kingship**: Jupiter’s conjunction with Regulus wasn’t a singular event but occurred three times over several months due to Jupiter’s retrograde motion. Starting September 14, 3 BC, Jupiter met with Regulus, creating a "crown" effect. As Jupiter moved forward and then retrograde, it returned to align with Regulus on February 17, 2 BC, and once more on May 8, 2 BC. This triple conjunction would have appeared as Jupiter “crowning” Regulus three times, underscoring the kingly symbolism. In Hebrew, Jupiter was also called Sedeq, meaning “righteousness,” a term associated with the Messiah. For the magi, these movements were powerful signs of divine authority and kingship linked specifically to a Jewish Messiah. 3. **Connection with the Jewish Nation**: Leo, the constellation of the lion, represented the tribe of Judah in Hebrew tradition, and prophecy pointed to a ruler from Judah. This connection would not have been lost on the Magi. They would have seen Jupiter and Regulus’ repeated alignments in Leo as an astronomical signal tied directly to Israel. They recognized that these celestial events were pointing to the fulfillment of Jewish Messianic prophecies, making the events specifically meaningful as a signal of a Jewish king’s birth. 4. **Rising in the East**: As Jupiter rose in the eastern sky, it met the description from Matthew’s account: the star that the magi “saw in the east.” Ancient magi interpreted the position of stars and planets as meaningful indicators, and it oriented the magi toward Jerusalem and signaled the start of their journey westward, following the “star.” 5. **Appeared at a Precise Time**: The timing of these conjunctions—especially between Jupiter and Regulus—would have been observable and precise, fitting the description of a star that appeared at specific, identifiable times as intentional signs, not random celestial phenomena.. This pattern allowed the magi to track Jupiter’s journey over time. 6. **Unnoticed by Herod**: Herod and others in Jerusalem, unfamiliar with the symbolic meanings and celestial patterns, were unaware of the conjunctions until the Magi explained them. 7. **Endured Over Time**: The retrograde motion of Jupiter around Regulus spanned several months, providing a lengthy timeframe for the magi to journey from the East to Jerusalem. By the time they arrived, the series of conjunctions was still in progress, ensuring that they could follow Jupiter’s motion as a guide during their trip. The timing allowed for a realistic journey, with the Magi able to observe the celestial signs both at their point of origin and as they approached their destination. 8. **Guided the Magi South from Jerusalem**: By the time the Magi reached Jerusalem, Jupiter had moved in a way that, from their perspective, would have appeared to lead them southward toward Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. 10. **Stopped Over Bethlehem**: Jupiter’s retrograde motion created a stationary effect in the sky on December 25, 2 BC. From Earth’s perspective, Jupiter appeared to “stop” over Bethlehem for several days. This phenomenon, known as the “stationary point” in retrograde motion, gave the appearance that the star had come to rest over the town, guiding the Magi to their destination. In fulfilling each of these criteria, Jupiter stands out as a plausible and meaningful candidate for the Star of the Magi, merging astrological significance, cultural symbolism, and observable astronomy into the momentous event described in Matthew. See the table here for more information. | Date | Celestial Event | Constellation | Significance | Conjunction Sequence | Additional Notes | Observation Direction | | -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------- | | August 12, 3 B.C. | First conjunction of Jupiter *(King Planet)* and Venus *(Fertility Planet)* | Leo | Jupiter and Venus unite as a "morning star" Represents union of "King Planet" and "Mother Planet" | Conjunction 1 | Occurs in Leo, the "Lion of Judah," symbolizing Israel | East | | September 11, 3 B.C | The Sun and Moon are in Virgo | Virgo | Revelation 12 matches this day. the beginning of the Jewish New Year, traditionally regarded as the anniversary of Noah’s landing after the Great Flood. See [[The Star Of Jesus - The Day That Jesus Was Born]] | --- | This is the potential birth day of Christ, when all the Stars of Revelation 12 are aligned. | | | September 14, 3 B.C. | First conjunction of Jupiter (King Planet) with Regulus *(King Star)* | Leo | The "royal planet" meets the "royal star" in the "royal constellation" Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, aligns with Jupiter, representing kingship and authority | Triple Conjunction 1/3 | Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, aligns with Jupiter, representing kingship and authority | East | | December 1, 3 B.C. | Jupiter begins retrograde movement | Leo | Starts its journey back toward Regulus | --- | Retrograde motion creates repeated alignments with Regulus | | | February 17, 2 B.C. | Second conjunction of Jupiter *(King Planet)* with Regulus *(King Star)* | Leo | Strengthens the "crowning" effect with a second alignment | Triple Conjunction 2/3 | Continued "crowning" over Regulus in Leo, *Occurs about nine months after the initial Venus conjunction, similar to the length of human pregnancy* | West | | May 8, 2 B.C. | Third conjunction of Jupiter *(King Planet)* with Regulus *(King Star)* | Leo | Completes “crown” effect with final conjunction, symbolizing kingship over Israel | Triple Conjunction 3/3 | Creates a circling effect over Regulus, emphasizing kingly symbolism over Judah | West | | June 1, 2 B.C. | Ongoing retrograde movement of Jupiter *(King Planet)* around Regulus *(King Star)* | Leo | Retrograde pattern completes | --- | Retrograde motion observed advancing calendar every 3 days; completes its movement around Regulus | | | June 17, 2 B.C. | Second conjunction of Jupiter *(King Planet)* and Venus *(Fertility Planet)* | Leo | Another close union of King Planet and Fertility Planet | Conjuction 2 | reunion almost 10 months later | | | August 26, 2 B.C. | Conjunction of Jupiter *(King Planet)*, Mars,and Mercury | Leo | | Conjunction 3 | | | | December 25, 2 B.C. | Jupiter becomes stationary over Bethlehem | Virgo | Aligns with winter solstice, where Jupiter appears to "stand still" over Bethlehem in Virgo | --- | Magi viewing from Jerusalem would have seen it stopped in the sky above the little town of Bethlehem. This was 6 months after the last conjunction *such alignments are not uncommon* | West |