Matthew 2:2

Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

The Old Testament opens with a question, God seeking man, and asking, "Adam, where art thou?" (Genesis 3:9). The New Testament opens with a question, man seeking God, and asking, "Where is he ...?"

Born King of the Jews. That the Messianic hope of the Hebrews was well known throughout the ancient world is evident from the following considerations: (1) The Old Testament had been translated into the Greek language in the Septuagint translation "about 280 B.C." The Old Testament was thus given a worldwide circulation at least a quarter of a millennium before Christ was born. Dummelow noted that "Synagogues existed through the east; ... at Damascus, nearly all the women were proselytes."[4] The Messianic hope is mentioned by the Roman historians, Suetonius and Tacitus, the latter actually stating that the prophecies were fulfilled in the birth of Titus![5">Matthew 2:2.">[5]

We saw his star in the east ... Many conjectures with reference to this star still leave the question unanswered with regard to what it actually was. Kepler stated that there was a conjunction of the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars within the constellation Pisces (the fish), beginning in 7 B.C. and culminating in 6 B.C. This particular constellation, Pisces, was held by ancient astrologers to represent Israel; therefore, this remarkable conjunction is at least worthy of notice. It is not hard to see in this a possible fulfillment of Numbers 24:17 concerning the star that should rise out of Jacob! Surely this must have been a real star, else the astrologers from the east would not have been impressed by it.[6] That the wise men were guided by a "real star" appears very unreasonable to Boles.[7] He affirmed that such a manifestation would have attracted multitudes; but it will be remembered that these "multitudes" could not even see the Sun of Righteousness himself after John the Baptist pointed him out to them! As to the genuine nature of that "star," we may not be dogmatic; but there can be no doubt whatever of the nature of that blessed Child over whom it stood. He was God of very God!

[4] J. R. Dummelow, op. cit., p. 626.

[5">Matthew 2:2.">[5] Adam Clarke, Commentary, article on Matthew (London: Mason and Lane, 1837), on Matthew 2:2.

[6] J. R. Dummelow, op cit., p. 627.

[7] H. Leo Boles, op. cit., p. 39.