Matthew 2:7

Then Herod privily called the wise men.

The crafty and cruel king had gained one point; he now knew where the Christ was to be born. In order to compass his murderous design, and get out of the way one whom he feared might be. rival for his throne, he must learn more. He therefore asks another question of the wise men, by which he hopes to ascertain the age of the royal child. That he asked privately shows his sinister purpose.

What time the star appeared.

The fact that, as stated below, he slew the children of two years and under, denotes that the star had been seen first about two years before. The great German astronomer, Kepler, first pointed out that in B. C. 7, or within two or three years of the birth of Jesus, there was. remarkable conjunction of the planets Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and an extraordinary star. His astronomical calculations on this subject have been verified at the British royal observatory. Whether or not this was what had excited the wise men, there is no doubt that such an event would produce an extraordinary commotion among all close observers of the heavens.