What was the star of Bethlehem? How could a star guide the Magi to a specific location?
The Star of Bethlehem is associated with the visit of the magi (wise men) from the East as recorded in Matthew 2:1-12. The text implies the Star appeared only to the magi in the East (the “East” most likely being the area of Persia, or modern-day Iran). There is no biblical record of anyone else observing this phenomenon. The magi saw something in the heavens that alerted them the Jewish Messiah was to be born (in Matthew 2:2 the magi refer to the star as being “His star”). The Star prompted them to travel to Jerusalem, the Jewish capital. This would be the logical place to start looking for the birth of the King of the Jews. When the magi were told that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, not in Jerusalem, they left. Herod “sent them to Bethlehem” (Matthew 2:8). Upon their leaving Herod, the Star that appeared to them in the East re-appeared and led them to the place Joseph and Mary were then staying (Matthew 2:9). Modern portrayals of the nativity scene show the wise men visiting
