which star did the wise men follow?

Question

I just wanted to know if that star is an actual star in our galaxy...

Answer 1

believe it or not, there is a book written by a couple of astrophysicists who researched that with every tool available to them and came up with a credible answer about an obscure star that supernovaed about 2000 years ago. Can't remember the name of the book, do a library search using keywords "star of bethlehem" etc.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Realize that at the times of the New Testament, the word "star" was used to refer not only to what we call stars today, but also to the planets. The planets were believed to be "stars" which for some reason wandering through the sky, unlike the others which appeared to stay "fixed" in their formation. It was believed that different configurations of the planets represented different events that would happen.

The word "star" was also used the way we would use the word "constellation" to refer to a grouping or conjuction of "stars" (planets included).

In the Book of Numbers, a Persian prophet by the name of Balaam had prophecied that a "star" would raise out of Israel who would be the savior of the world. This prophecy was well know outside of the Bible also. There is still a pillar in a temple in Assyria today that appears to date from around 1000 BC that has this prophecy (and other prophecies by Balaam) inscribed on it.

It appears that the "star" of the Bible was a conjuction of the planets that occured in 6 BC. The same conjunction had last occured around 1500 BC, at the time Balaam's prophecy was given, and has occured only once since in the 1400s.

So the "star" may have been a conjugtion of planets that was interpreted as a sign of the birth of Christ.

Answer 4

The Star was likely formed by an alignment of planets and occurred in 2-3 BCE. In all there was a series of seven conjunctions, including three between Jupiter and Regulus and a strikingly close conjunction between Jupiter and Venus near Regulus on June 17, 2 BC. "The fusion of two planets would have been a rare and awe-inspiring event." The Star did move but just appeared to. Just like when you look at the moon from a moving car and it seems to follow you.

Answer 5

It would be doubtful if it was truly a star or other galactic event since there would be no way use it as a guide to a specific city on earth.

The best way to put it in perspective is:
Pretend you can see from New York to Los Angeles. Now, take a step to your left and tell me if the position of Los Angeles changed.

If you walked from the "east" to Bethlehem, the stars would change by the rotation of the earth, not by your travels. It would have had to be something in or very near our atomsphere to provide that type of guidance.

[edit]
Nacsez - interesting story but the bible doesn't mention the number of wise men - just that they had three different gifts. Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.

Answer 6

the three wise men (or "three kings" as they are referred to today) are the stars on Orions belt, and on the day before the 25th of December, they point directly to Sirius which in turn points directly to where the sun will rise the next day. This is important because for the 3 days after the solstice, the sun does not appear to move upward from its lowest point and on the 25th, it moves up one degree signaling that the days will begin to lengthen. this is the real meaning of the three wise men story. when the three wise men (Stars of Orions belt) follow the Star of the East (Sirius) they are lead to the birth of the king (the Sun) who had died (progressively shorter days until the 21st), and 3 days later was born again (on the 25th the sun rises one degree).

the three kings were astrologers right? well this is about as literally astrological as you can get! believe it!

Answer 7

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God condemns “worshipers [“astrologers,” according to the Septuagint] of the heavens, the lookers at the stars.” (Compare Deuteronomy 18:10.) These astrologers came “from eastern parts,” most likely the then center of occult worship, unholy Babylon, where they worshiped false gods. Thus, they were guided by what they thought was a moving “star,” which no one else is reported to have seen. Also, Matthew shows that the “star” led them first to King Herod, who then tried to have Jesus killed.—Matthew 2:1, 2. No, God did not send a “star” to conduct them to Jesus. Is it not more likely that this “star” was sent by someone seeking to destroy Jesus before he was able to fulfill his God-given assignment?

Answer 8

Some historians beleive it was a astronomical event of Saturn and Jupiter being in the same place in the sky from our vantage point.

Answer 9

I think it was not a star at all, but a lighted object or point of light that appeared as a star for this one purpose. Especially since it came over the animal stall specifically.

Answer 10

Well, many people believe that it was the North Star, which is real.