We have seen his star in the east

This is a follow up on the post There came wise men from the east

we have seen his star in the east What was that star? I admit, I have heard about the ‘star of Bethlehem’ all my life but I have never really thought about it or tried to explain it. I did not know for example that it not only stood over the house where he was, but shone on him! How neat is that?

But, back to the question of what it was. Here are some explanations:

John Chrysostom
“Moreover, the star, when it stood over the young Child, stayed its course again: which thing itself also was of a greater power than belongs to a star, now to hide itself, now to appear, and having appeared to stand still. Hence they too received an increase of faith. For this cause they rejoiced also, that they had found what they were seeking; so great a longing had they for Christ. For first it came and stood over His very head, showing that what is born is Divine; next standing there, it leads them to worship Him; being not simply barbarians, but the wiser sort among them.”

For if you can learn what the star was, and whether it were one of the common stars, or new and unlike the rest, and whether it was a star by nature or a star in appearance only... Whence then will these points be manifest? From the very things that are written. Thus, that this star was not of the common sort, or rather not a star at all, as it seems at least to me, but some invisible power transformed into this appearance, is in the first place evident from its very course. For there is not any star that moves by this way...In the second place, one may see this from the time also. For it appears not in the night, but in mid-day, while the sun is shining...In the third place, from its appearing, and hiding itself again...In the fourth place, one may perceive this clearly, from its mode of pointing Him out...How then, tell me, did the star point out a spot so confined, just the space of a manger, unless it left that height and came down, and stood over the very head of the young child? And at this the evangelist was hinting when he said, Lo, the star went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

And for what intent did it appear? To reprove the Jews for their insensibility, and to cut off from them all occasion of excuse for their willful ignorance. For, since He who came was to put an end to the ancient polity, and to call the world to the worship of Himself, straightway He opens the door to the Gentiles, willing through strangers to admonish His own people. Thus, because the prophets were continually heard speaking of His advent, and they gave no great heed, He made even barbarians come from a far country, to seek after the king that was among them. And they learn from a Persian tongue first of all, what they would not submit to learn from the prophets.

John Lightfoot
For we have seen his star in the east. - We, being in the east, have seen his star : — that heavenly light, which in that very night wherein the Saviour was born shone round about the shepherds of Bethlehem, perhaps was seen by these magicians, being then a great distance off, resembling a star hanging over Judea ; whence they might the more easily guess that the happy sign belonged to the Jews.

John Gill
and lo, to their great surprise and joy, the star, which they saw in the east, then appeared; for, it seems, it had for some time disappeared: it looks as if it had been only seen at the time of Christ's birth, and when they were in their own country; for both here, and in Matthew 2:2 they are only said to have seen it "in the east", that is, when they were in the east country; so that it seems from that time they had had no sight of it, not while they were on their journey, nor at Jerusalem; nor was it necessary they should. When they saw it in their own country, according to their best observation, it was over the land of Judea, and they were persuaded of it, that it was a certain sign that the king of the Jews was born: they therefore determine upon and prepare for a journey to Jerusalem, the metropolis of the nation, and where the king kept his court, to inquire for him; nor needed they the guidance of the star to direct them to a place so well known; but being in quest of him in an obscure place, and without any guide, this star appears to them; and, which is something very extraordinary,

went before them, till it came, and stood over, where the young child was. This star had a motion, kept pace with them, and was a guide unto them, till it and they came to the place where Christ was; and then it stood directly over the house, so that they had no need to inquire of any person for him. It is certain from hence, that this star was indeed a very unusual one; its being seen in the daytime, its motion and standing still, its situation, which must be very low, and its use to point out the very house where Christ was.

By the star they saw, some understand an angel, which is not likely. The learned Lightfoot is of opinion that it was the light or glory of the Lord, which shone about the shepherds, when the angel brought them the news of Christ's birth, and which at so great a distance appeared as a star to these wise men; others, that it was a comet, such as has been thought to portend the birth or death of some illustrious person: but it seems to be properly a star, a new and an unusual one, such as had never been seen, nor observed before; and is called his star, the star of the king born, because it appeared on his account, and was the sign of his birth, who is "the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star", Rev 22:16. This they saw "in the east"; not in the eastern part of the heavens, but they saw it when they were in the east, that is, in their own country; and according to the best observations they were able to make, it was in that part of the heavens right over the land of Judea; from whence they concluded that the king of the Jews was born; but the question is how they should hereby know and be assured that such a person was born? To this it maybe replied, that there is a prophecy of Balaam's which is thus expressed, "there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel", Numbers 24:17 which is owned by some Jewish writers to be a prophecy of the Messiah; though the star there mentioned is considered by them as one of the Messiah's titles; but I rather take it to be a sign of the Messiah's coming, and the meaning is, when a star shall "walk" or steer its course from Jacob, or above, or over the land of Israel, then a sceptre, or sceptre bearer, that is, a king, shall rise out of Israel. Now this prophecy of Balaam, who lived in the east, might be traditionally handed down to this time, and be well known by these men; and who, observing such a star appear over the land of Judea, might conclude that now the sceptre bearer or king was born. Besides, Zoroastres, the author of the sect of the Magi or wise men, and who appears to be a Jew by birth, and to be acquainted with the writings of the Old Testament, and with this prophecy, spoke of the birth of Christ to his followers; and told them when he should be born, a star would appear, and shine in the day, and ordered them to go where that directed, and offer gifts, and worship him.
An Eastern writer, who affirms what I have now mentioned, relates the following speech as spoke by the wise men to Herod, when in conversation with him, about this matter:
"A certain person, say they, of great note with us, in a book which he composed, warned us in it, mentioning these things; a child that shall descend from heaven, will be born in Palestine, whom the greatest part of the world shall serve, and the sign of his appearance shall be this; ye shall see a strange star, which shall direct you where he is; when ye shall see this, take gold, myrrh and frankincense, and go and offer them to him, and worship him, and then return, lest a great calamity befall you. Now the star has appeared unto us, and we are come to perform what was commanded us.''

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Wow. And I could have produced more! No one seems to know for sure what this star was, but it is certain that a star appeared and supernaturally guided the magi to Jesus. I find this interesting, it seems no one but the shepherds and the magi saw the star and the glory.

Many believe that the star of Bethlehem can be explained in a thoroughly natural way – such as super nova, comet, conjunction of planets...

Christian commentators generally come to one of three conclusions regarding the star of Bethlehem: (1) a few ignore the question of the nature and behavior of the star altogether; (2) some accept a naturalistic explanation; and (3) some say the explanation is supernatural and miraculous but leave it at that. from the article The Star of Bethlehem. (in which he offers his own explanation!)


So what is my understanding of the star and its explanation?

1) This was a real, historical, literal phenomenon, yet one that was supernatural
2) No one knows what it was. I repeat, No one knows what it was.
3) If anyone claims to be able to explain it definitively they are, uh, not telling the truth

The Star of Bethlehem is part of the story of the birth of Jesus. It is one of the many witnesses God provided for us that we might be assured that he is the Christ.

lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, 

till it came and stood over where the young child was.

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Adam Clarke – English Methodist theologian and biblical scholar; 1760-1832
John Gill - English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian; 1697-1771
John Chrysostom - Archbishop of Constantinople; 349–407
John Lightfoot 1602-1675, "Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae : Hebrew and Talmudical exercitations upon the Gospels, the Acts, some chapters of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, and the First Epistle to the Corinthians"