Meaning of STAR OF THE EAST

The most accurate interpretation of the text's story is that it was a supernatural event, analogous to a star, that the wise men saw in the sky.

Possibly influenced by Balaam's prophecy (Num. 24:17) or by other predictions, the wise men thought that the phenomenon announced the birth of the king of the Jews.

When these wise men left Jerusalem, after their consultation with Herod, the star appeared to them again, which led them, stopping where the divine Child was (Mt. 2:1-2, 9).

Several naturalistic interpretations have been proposed, based on which we would be faced with a natural phenomenon, through which the magicians were directed in a providential manner.

In December 1603, astronomer Kepler observed a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. In March 1604 the planet Mars approached the previous ones.

In October 1604, a new, extremely bright star joined the three stars; Then it slowly faded away, and disappeared in February 1606.

Kepler calculated that a conjunction of the same planets had occurred in the years 7 and 6 BC. He believed that if the variable star had then joined the three planets, as had happened in 1604, this must have been the eastern star.

However, a star cannot be assimilated to a conjunction; On the other hand, it does not coincide with the chronology of the birth of Christ, which has been specified by independent considerations. And the biblical account indicates that the event was very different from this naturalistic rationalization (Mt. 2:9).eee