Who were these “wise men”? Were there three? The safe answer is “we don’t know.” They may have been Jews from Babylon—which was still a major Jewish center—or they may have been Babylonian Persians. They were “Magi,” which is the same term used for Daniel when he was an advisor to the King of Babylon. They were surely some of their day’s best-educated men—though their primary expertise was probably a mix between astronomy and astrology.

What was the source of their interest? Again, we’re not told, but we can speculate with some assurance. Whatever the Star of Bethlehem was—whether a unique momentary creation of God or his use of the existing planets—it got their attention. As astronomers, they were aware of either its uniqueness or the unique combination of planets that produced its appearance. As astrologers, they would have sought the significant event that it proclaimed. In this case, they were right on both counts.

There was most likely more to draw them than just a bright spot in the sky, however. Being “Magi,” they would have also known the history of their country. Whether Persian or Jew, they would have had the royal archives available for study. In these archives, they would have read of the greatest of all the Babylonian “Magi,” Daniel the Jew. Most likely, they would have not only read about him, but also read his records—including what we call the book of Daniel.

If the book of Daniel was available—and we would argue that it was—it would have told them that a great Jewish king was due to be born. They would have read that from Cyrus’s permission in 536 B.C. to rebuild the Temple to the appearance of the Anointed One—literally the Messiah—would require sixty-nine weeks of years. Knowing the date of Cyrus’ decree—and most likely being able to read it in the archives, themselves—they knew a significant Jewish king was due. If they were Jewish—and knew the sacred writings of their own people—they would have been even more excited at the prospect of the Messiah’s birth being due.

Did they see a new star appear intermittently or were the consolations in a unique arrangement? Again, the answer is “we don’t know,” but the latter is the more probable. If so, is there an astrological event that falls in this time frame that would fit Matthew’s record? Yes, there is.

First of all, there needed to be some astrological event that initially attracted them and motivated them to leave Babylon. According to Dr. Charles Chester, we have several. (A summarization of his study was published in Imprimis, Hillsdale College.) He tells us that in 3 B.C. and 2 B.C. there was a series of conjunctions—those times when two planets have the same celestial longitude—involving Jupiter. For the astrologers, Jupiter represented the birth of kings. Further, on September 3 B.C., February 2 B.C., and June 2 B.C., Jupiter came into conjunction with Regulus, the king’s star of the constellation of Leo. This constellation was associated with the Lion of Judah. In June, 2 B.C., Jupiter and Venus, the two brightest objects in the sky were in conjunction. Such an active sky would have alerted the Magi to full attention.

What, though, about the record that the “star stopped over the place where the child was?” How would a planetary conjunction “stop” at a spot over Bethlehem? Chester tells us that the word translated “stop” was used for what we now call a planet’s “stationary point.” A planet moves eastward until it exhibits a retrograde loop. It seems to slow down and then reverse its course, moving westward. At that point of seeming reversal of direction, it “stops.” Jupiter made such a retrograde loop, seeming to be stationary on December 25, 2 B.C., when Jesus would have been a bit over three months old.

Most of us imagine a star that is a beacon of brightness. However, it may have only been outstanding to the trained eye. We have no record of anyone else being attracted by it.

One of the strangest responses is that of the priests to the report of the Magi. When asked by Herod where the Messiah was to be born, they responded without a moment’s hesitation. They answered, “in Bethlehem”—a mere six miles from where they stood. Dignitaries from a foreign country had come to seek the new King and the priests didn’t bother to go six miles to investigate. Herod was the only one with any seeming interest. Of course, it didn’t take much of a possibility to arouse Herod to action.

On the other hand, the wise-men quickly set out to find the new king. Upon seeking the Messiah, they worshiped him, giving them their gifts. The family at this point had perhaps made it to Zachariah and Elizabeth’s home. If not, they were housed in a home, not still in the manger.