Matthew 2:2

King of the Jews A title unknown to the earlier history of Israel and applied to no one except the Messiah. It reappears in the inscription over the Cross (ch. Matthew 27:37).

his star in the east The simplest explanation of this is that a Star or Meteor appeared in the sky to guide the Magi on their way first to Jerusalem, then to Bethlehem. It is, however, quite possible that the Magi were divinely led to connect some calculated phenomenon with the birth of the "King of the Jews." Among many conjectures may be mentioned one recently propounded by Prof. Lauth of Munich. It appears to be proved that the dog-star Sirius rose heliacally, i. e. appeared at sunrise, on the first of the Egyptian month Mesori, for four years in succession, viz. 5, 4, 3, 2 before our era. The rising of this star of special brilliance on the first of this special month (Mesori=birth of the prince) would have a marked significance. By the Magi it might well be connected with the prophecy of "the star of Jacob," and become the cause of their journey to Jerusalem. This theory explains Herod's edict, Matthew 2:16, for the destruction of all male children "from two years old and under," for, as according to the date assigned to the Nativity of Christ, the arrival of the Magi at Jerusalem would coincide with the year 3 before the Christian era, the star had appeared for two years.

The theory, supported by Alford, which identifies this "star" with a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, forces the meaning of the word "star," is inconsistent with the latest chronological results, and is shown to be scientifically impossible by Prof. Pritchard in Dict. of the Bible, sub voc. "Star of the Magi."

The connection of the birth of the Messiah with the appearance of a Star is illustrated by the name Barchochab ("Son of a Star"), assumed by a false Messiah who appeared in the year 120 a. d. It has also been noticed that in the Cartoucheor Egyptian royal symbol of Vespasian, the word "God" is for the first time expressed by a Star. (Dr Lauth, Trans. Bib. Arch. Soc.iv. 2.)