THE STAR THAT LED THE MAGI ON

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 191, 10 December 1941, Page 6

THE STAR THAT LED THE MAGI ON

"And 10, the star which they saw in the east went before them till it came and stood over where: the young child was." That Biblical account of how the Magi followed a star to Bethlehem lias aroused speculation throughout the intervening centuries. What Avas this celestial manifestation which brought the three wise men before Ilerod with the query: "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the cast, and are come lo worship Him," Some have advanced the possibility that it might have been a comet, others a nova, and still others a conjunction of the planets. Jupiter and Saturn. Another school of thought has consistently held that the star cf Bethlehem was a miraculous manifestation heralding the birth of Jesus. A conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn took place in May ol the year 7 B.C. It has been suggested that, as the two planets approached each other, they might have taken on the appearance of a single brilliant star. Investigation into this theory, however, proved it untenable; because at their closest approach to each other the planets were separated by twice the apparent diameter of the moon. Thus they could not have appeared as a single star. A nova is a fixed star which suddenly increases greatly in brilliance, remains bright for a few weeks or months, and then gradually becomes dim. This is a familiar phenomenon to astronomers. It has been jjointed out, however, that a nova would not act like the star of Bethlehem, which, according to the Biblical account, went before the Magi as they travelled Avestward and finally stopped over the stable in A\iiich Jesus was born. There is no record of a comet appearing at the time o:f the birth of Jesus, so the possibility that the Magi saAV a celestial body of this sort must rest upon pure speculation. Moreover, it would be just as

difficult to reconcile the actions of a comet with the Biblical account of the star of Bethlehem as it Avoukl the actions of a nova. The 1 Miagi are believed, to have come from Persia, and it is thought their attention Avas turned toAvards a Messiah by the traditional JeAvish beliefs, which had become known in many parts of the Orient. It is believed that they were astrologers and belonged to seme priesthood, probably on the Medes. Their ' iourney on camel back Avas perhaps 1000 or 1200 miles long, and might lurvc occupied anywhere from three to six months or even longer. The Biblical account suggests that for a time Magi lost sight of the star. Its first appearance guided them toward Jerusalem, Avliere they told Herod of their quest, and asked'Avhcre the Messiah Avas to be born. Herod's chief priests gave the reply: "Iji Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is- Avritten by the prophet — ' "And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a GoA'crnor, that 'shall rule my people Israel." The Biblical narrative tells lioav the Avise men then resumed their quest, and lioav, as thev set out from Jerusalem Avith their faces set towards Bethlehem, the star again shone before them: "And 10, the star Avliich they saw lo the east, Avqnt before them, till it came and stood 0A r er where the young child Avas. "When they saAV the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." That is the account of the journey of the Magi as told in the gospel of St. Matthew. The star of Bethlehem has been the theme of many Christian carols; miracle plays haA r e . been based upon it, and it has been represented in innumerable shrines throughout Christendom. Through the centuries Avhich have passed since the gospel narrative Avas written, many theories have been advanced by astronomers, theologians, and laymen in an effort to explain the mysterious celestial phenomen for which MattheAA r vouches. But the question still is asked: "What Avas the Star of Bethlehem?'