What do you think?
Rate this book
The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi
Could the $50 purchase of an ancient coin by a Rutgers astronomer have unlocked the mystery of the Christmas Star? For years, scientists have looked, with little success, to astronomical records for an explanation of the magical star that guided the Magi to Christ’s manger. Intrigued by the image he found on the latest addition to his coin collection, Michael Molnar thought there might be more to learn by looking, instead, at the teachings of ancient astrologers.
Molnar argues in his book that the Star of Bethlehem was not a star at all, but rather a regal portent centering around the planet Jupiter that was eclipsed by the moon. He bases this theory on the actual beliefs of astrologers, such as the Magi, who lived around the time of Christ. Molnar found some intriguing clues to the mystery while researching the meaning of astrological symbols he found an ancient coin, which bore the image of Aries looking back at a star. He found that Aries was a symbol of Judea at the time, and that ancient astrologers believed that a new king would be born when the moon passed in front of Jupiter. Molnar wondered, could the coin have been issued as a response to the Great Messianic Portent, the Star of Bethlehem?
To match the story of the appearance of the Christmas star, Molnar also knew the event had to happen when Jupiter was “in the east.” Using these criteria and a computer program, he was able to chart an eclipse of Jupiter in Aries on April 17, 6 B.C., a day when Jupiter was precisely “in the east,” which confirmed his theory. Moreover, he found that a Roman astrologer described the conditions of that day as fitting the birth of a “divine and immortal” person.
According to Harvard University Professor Owen Gingerich, “this is the most original and important contribution of the entire 20th century” about the Magi’s star. Using clues from astronomy, astrology, and history, Molnar has created a provocative, fascinating theory on the Christmas Star. He weaves together an intriguing scientific detective story which resolves one of the world’s greatest mysteries: The Star of Bethlehem at the birth of Christ.
Molnar argues in his book that the Star of Bethlehem was not a star at all, but rather a regal portent centering around the planet Jupiter that was eclipsed by the moon. He bases this theory on the actual beliefs of astrologers, such as the Magi, who lived around the time of Christ. Molnar found some intriguing clues to the mystery while researching the meaning of astrological symbols he found an ancient coin, which bore the image of Aries looking back at a star. He found that Aries was a symbol of Judea at the time, and that ancient astrologers believed that a new king would be born when the moon passed in front of Jupiter. Molnar wondered, could the coin have been issued as a response to the Great Messianic Portent, the Star of Bethlehem?
To match the story of the appearance of the Christmas star, Molnar also knew the event had to happen when Jupiter was “in the east.” Using these criteria and a computer program, he was able to chart an eclipse of Jupiter in Aries on April 17, 6 B.C., a day when Jupiter was precisely “in the east,” which confirmed his theory. Moreover, he found that a Roman astrologer described the conditions of that day as fitting the birth of a “divine and immortal” person.
According to Harvard University Professor Owen Gingerich, “this is the most original and important contribution of the entire 20th century” about the Magi’s star. Using clues from astronomy, astrology, and history, Molnar has created a provocative, fascinating theory on the Christmas Star. He weaves together an intriguing scientific detective story which resolves one of the world’s greatest mysteries: The Star of Bethlehem at the birth of Christ.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1999
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 21, 2024
In this book, Michael Molnar, a now retired Rutgers astronomy and physics professor, asks the question “What got the Magi of the Bible so hot and bothered that they trekked hundreds of miles to a distant kingdom?”. Many theories have emerged over the years regarding the “Star of Bethlehem”; from Johannes Kepler to biblical scholars today. However few have approached it from the perspective of the Magi, Hellenistic astrologers from Parthia with little stock in the future king of Judea.
Sparked by ancient numismatic evidence (a provincial issue from Antioch circa 6 CE), Molnar convincingly argues that only chronologically relevant astrological principles from the early Roman period are useful in investigating the motives of the Magi. He makes complete use of primary literary astronomical and astrological sources like Claudius Ptolemy, Vetttius Valens, Marcus Manilius, and Julius Firmicus; extant imperial horoscopes of Hadrian, Nero, and Augustus; and material culture including the Roman provincial coinage and epic statuary (see the Regal Lion Horoscope of Antiochus I at Nemrud Dagi).
Importantly, Molnar disabuses the reader of ideas linking the Star to grand notions of visually spectacular celestial phenomena. He correctly points out that by the Roman period, the age of Babylonian, observation-based astrology had long passed and was replaced by mathematical model-driven Greek astrology. That is, highly portentous horoscopes did not correlate with ultra-rare, visually striking phenomena but with meaningful combinations of stars/planets within the Zodiac. These combinations, derived with calculation, usually did not produce visually striking phenomena is the sky. But that didn’t matter to the Magi. In other words, our modern predisposition to rare or visually intense spectacles, like a comet or supernova, have biased us against finding the true historical basis for the Star.
After addressing previous theories regarding the Star, Molnar logically lays out his own theory. In a top down approach he whittles the list of possible celestial events down to a conjunction of Jupiter and the Moon which coincided with many other portentous astrological omens on April 17th, 6 BCE. Interestingly, this date matches incredibly well with historical and biblical information regarding the birth of Jesus. Molnar doesn’t explicitly argue that Jesus must’ve been born on this date, but instead is satisfied with pointing out that this, with very high probability, is what brought the Magi to the court of Herod.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Even if I (and most modern folks) don’t believe in astrology, the vast majority of the ancient world did. And because of that, astrology earns its place in the toolbox of historiography.
5/5
Sparked by ancient numismatic evidence (a provincial issue from Antioch circa 6 CE), Molnar convincingly argues that only chronologically relevant astrological principles from the early Roman period are useful in investigating the motives of the Magi. He makes complete use of primary literary astronomical and astrological sources like Claudius Ptolemy, Vetttius Valens, Marcus Manilius, and Julius Firmicus; extant imperial horoscopes of Hadrian, Nero, and Augustus; and material culture including the Roman provincial coinage and epic statuary (see the Regal Lion Horoscope of Antiochus I at Nemrud Dagi).
Importantly, Molnar disabuses the reader of ideas linking the Star to grand notions of visually spectacular celestial phenomena. He correctly points out that by the Roman period, the age of Babylonian, observation-based astrology had long passed and was replaced by mathematical model-driven Greek astrology. That is, highly portentous horoscopes did not correlate with ultra-rare, visually striking phenomena but with meaningful combinations of stars/planets within the Zodiac. These combinations, derived with calculation, usually did not produce visually striking phenomena is the sky. But that didn’t matter to the Magi. In other words, our modern predisposition to rare or visually intense spectacles, like a comet or supernova, have biased us against finding the true historical basis for the Star.
After addressing previous theories regarding the Star, Molnar logically lays out his own theory. In a top down approach he whittles the list of possible celestial events down to a conjunction of Jupiter and the Moon which coincided with many other portentous astrological omens on April 17th, 6 BCE. Interestingly, this date matches incredibly well with historical and biblical information regarding the birth of Jesus. Molnar doesn’t explicitly argue that Jesus must’ve been born on this date, but instead is satisfied with pointing out that this, with very high probability, is what brought the Magi to the court of Herod.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Even if I (and most modern folks) don’t believe in astrology, the vast majority of the ancient world did. And because of that, astrology earns its place in the toolbox of historiography.
5/5
December 21, 2023
WAS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM A ‘CELESTIAL PORTENT’ BASED ON ROMAN ASTROLOGY?
Astronomer Michael Molnar wrote in the Preface to this 1999 book, “In the spring of 1991 I was trying to resolve the meaning of some intriguing Roman coins that were minted in … Antioch … in the early first century A.D. … I then realized that the coins of Antioch were the key to understanding the Star of Bethlehem… they also pointed to the constellation … where the Magi would have looked for a regal portent… I set out to find what a stargazer of Roman times would have recognized as the star of a new Judean king. When I first announced my findings … no one, including me, fully appreciated how well my new explanation agreed with the biblical account. Further investigation uncovered more evidence to corroborate and elucidate my initial findings. News of my explanation … spread, and now every Christmas I receive calls from people… who want to learn what happened in the sky two millennia ago. Their interest and excitement have encouraged me to write about my research on the Magi’s star, a truly magnificent astrological condition marking the birth of the King of the Jews…” (Pg. xiii)
He continues, “There have been many theories about the Star of Bethlehem… My research finds that the Magi were … highly respected Hellenistic astrologers, truly ‘wise men.’ Thus, this book focuses on material required for understanding the Magi’s star from the perspective of an astrologer from the time of King Herod… that leads directly to an understanding of what the Magi saw as a regal star, a celestial portent of the birth of the King of Judea.” (Pg. xiv)
He continues in the first chapter, “In this book, I will present new evidence in favor of a historical basis to the star mentioned in Matthew. There was indeed a great celestial portent during Herod’s reign… that signified the birth of a great king of Judea and is in excellent agreement with the biblical account.” (Pg. 3)
He argues, “it is difficult to accept a miracle or an angelic messenger as an explanation for the star unless all possible natural explanations have been refuted, and there are several reasons for seeking a natural explanation… Matthew does not call the star a miracle, nor does the account even suggest that the Magi were talking about a supernatural apparition… the remarkably good fit between the story about the Magi’s visit to Herod and the political and social context tends to support a natural, physical explanation… If the theory that the star is unexplainable is put aside, there are several intriguing theories that relate to the star… All of the following theories of the Star of Bethlehem are based upon an interpretation of the Greek word for star [‘aster’] used in the biblical account.” (Pg. 6-7)
He then examines three theories: “THE COMET: … The evidence … is strong that people of Roman times feared rather than welcomed comets… a comet pointing to the sign of Judea would not have meant good news about a birth of a king of the Jews… the Magi were searching for a newborn king, not a doomed king. Finally, a comet would have been easily noticed by Herod and the people of Jerusalem, yet they did not see the star… [This] shows that the Magi’s regal star could not have been a comet.” (Pg. 17, 21) “THE SUPERNOVA: … The theory that the star was a nova or a supernova owes its origin … to the great astronomer (and astrologer) Johannes Kepler… Although Kepler mused about the conjunction in 6 B.C. … his mysticism led him to believe instead that the Star of Bethlehem had been a miracle, not a comet or a new star…[The] supernova theory is an excellent example of how theorists rationalize that the accidental coincidence of an astronomical event with the birth of Jesus… must have been the Star of Bethlehem…” (Pg. 21-25) “THE PLANETARY CONJUNCTION;… some researchers have advocated a triple planetary conjunction as an explanation… there was indeed a triple conjunction early in 6 B.C. … Although a triple conjunction seems to be a reasonable explanation … because it was rare and visually impressive, two issues must be resolved. Did astrologers of antiquity think this … signified a regal birth? And how was the conjunction related to the birth of a king in Judea?... this theory … is problematic because the rising of planets at sunset is not what ‘in the east’ meant to astrologers of antiquity. Furthermore… these conjunctions happened in Pisces, which was not the zodiacal sign of the Jews… An intriguing celestial event occurring in the right time frame is not necessarily a solution unless contemporaneous sources can substantiate it as being a regal portent.” (Pg. 30)
He asserts, “It cannot be said often enough that the answer to the puzzle lies in the kind of astrology that dominated the Roman world at the time of the birth of Jesus… the Magi practiced a highly Hellenized form of astrology that was not Babylonian… The correct approach to solving the mystery of the Star of Bethlehem is… to identify those astrological conditions that people of ancient times would have believed to point to a birth of a king in Judea.” (Pg. 31)
He states, “it is reasonable to say that Jesus was born between 8 B.C. and 4 B.C.” (Pg. 63) Later, he adds, “When did Jupiter have a heliacal rising in Aries during the time of interest[?]… Only ONCE, on April 17, 6 B.C., which coincides with the second lunar occultation of Jupiter!” (Pg. 89)
He summarizes, “The evidence shows that astrologers did indeed recognize the Star of Bethlehem as an extraordinary celestial portent of a royal and divine birth… the information gleaned from … the kind of astrology practiced during Roman times, reveals elements in the account of Matthew that point to a historical basis that is stronger than previously believed… ‘in the east’ … was the most important astrological phase for the regal planet, Jupiter… Jupiter’s appearance as a morning star occurred on April 17, B.C., and was accompanied by other powerful astrological aspects that pointed to a magnificent star-blessed birth.” (Pg. 116-117)
He acknowledges, “Of course, my findings cannot validate all of the details in the Bible about the birth of Jesus. For instance, the astrological evidence cannot prove that Jesus was born in Bethlehem: anyone born anywhere on April 17, 6 B.C. would have had a regal birth. It is precisely because the Magi were not sure exactly where the birth had occurred that they went to Jerusalem… to ask Herod for advice about the likely birthplace…” (Pg. 119)
He concludes, “My research … reveals much more agreement between Matthew, historical records, and astrological sources than previous inquiries have… that fortifies the case for a historical basis for the Star of Bethlehem in the account in Matthew… Because no one could identity a believable celestial event, the account of the Magi’s star has up to now been challenged as a midrash convention… or a pious dream… Undoubtedly, the new evidence that I have uncovered will have important consequences for Christians and for scholars. People can be assured that the Star of Bethlehem did indeed exist… I hope that it will give new direction to the study of ancient astrological records now that their usefulness has been demonstrated by my investigation…” (Pg. 122-123)
He adds, “I see no reason why we should hide or ignore the historical importance of astrology. Only by being open-minded about astrologers’ work can we find the truth behind our history and heritage…astrology contributed to the fashioning of the Matthean account about the Magi and their star but is also behind the Lucan account about the heavenly host.” (Pg. 125)
This book may interest some studying different theories about the Star of Bethlehem.
Astronomer Michael Molnar wrote in the Preface to this 1999 book, “In the spring of 1991 I was trying to resolve the meaning of some intriguing Roman coins that were minted in … Antioch … in the early first century A.D. … I then realized that the coins of Antioch were the key to understanding the Star of Bethlehem… they also pointed to the constellation … where the Magi would have looked for a regal portent… I set out to find what a stargazer of Roman times would have recognized as the star of a new Judean king. When I first announced my findings … no one, including me, fully appreciated how well my new explanation agreed with the biblical account. Further investigation uncovered more evidence to corroborate and elucidate my initial findings. News of my explanation … spread, and now every Christmas I receive calls from people… who want to learn what happened in the sky two millennia ago. Their interest and excitement have encouraged me to write about my research on the Magi’s star, a truly magnificent astrological condition marking the birth of the King of the Jews…” (Pg. xiii)
He continues, “There have been many theories about the Star of Bethlehem… My research finds that the Magi were … highly respected Hellenistic astrologers, truly ‘wise men.’ Thus, this book focuses on material required for understanding the Magi’s star from the perspective of an astrologer from the time of King Herod… that leads directly to an understanding of what the Magi saw as a regal star, a celestial portent of the birth of the King of Judea.” (Pg. xiv)
He continues in the first chapter, “In this book, I will present new evidence in favor of a historical basis to the star mentioned in Matthew. There was indeed a great celestial portent during Herod’s reign… that signified the birth of a great king of Judea and is in excellent agreement with the biblical account.” (Pg. 3)
He argues, “it is difficult to accept a miracle or an angelic messenger as an explanation for the star unless all possible natural explanations have been refuted, and there are several reasons for seeking a natural explanation… Matthew does not call the star a miracle, nor does the account even suggest that the Magi were talking about a supernatural apparition… the remarkably good fit between the story about the Magi’s visit to Herod and the political and social context tends to support a natural, physical explanation… If the theory that the star is unexplainable is put aside, there are several intriguing theories that relate to the star… All of the following theories of the Star of Bethlehem are based upon an interpretation of the Greek word for star [‘aster’] used in the biblical account.” (Pg. 6-7)
He then examines three theories: “THE COMET: … The evidence … is strong that people of Roman times feared rather than welcomed comets… a comet pointing to the sign of Judea would not have meant good news about a birth of a king of the Jews… the Magi were searching for a newborn king, not a doomed king. Finally, a comet would have been easily noticed by Herod and the people of Jerusalem, yet they did not see the star… [This] shows that the Magi’s regal star could not have been a comet.” (Pg. 17, 21) “THE SUPERNOVA: … The theory that the star was a nova or a supernova owes its origin … to the great astronomer (and astrologer) Johannes Kepler… Although Kepler mused about the conjunction in 6 B.C. … his mysticism led him to believe instead that the Star of Bethlehem had been a miracle, not a comet or a new star…[The] supernova theory is an excellent example of how theorists rationalize that the accidental coincidence of an astronomical event with the birth of Jesus… must have been the Star of Bethlehem…” (Pg. 21-25) “THE PLANETARY CONJUNCTION;… some researchers have advocated a triple planetary conjunction as an explanation… there was indeed a triple conjunction early in 6 B.C. … Although a triple conjunction seems to be a reasonable explanation … because it was rare and visually impressive, two issues must be resolved. Did astrologers of antiquity think this … signified a regal birth? And how was the conjunction related to the birth of a king in Judea?... this theory … is problematic because the rising of planets at sunset is not what ‘in the east’ meant to astrologers of antiquity. Furthermore… these conjunctions happened in Pisces, which was not the zodiacal sign of the Jews… An intriguing celestial event occurring in the right time frame is not necessarily a solution unless contemporaneous sources can substantiate it as being a regal portent.” (Pg. 30)
He asserts, “It cannot be said often enough that the answer to the puzzle lies in the kind of astrology that dominated the Roman world at the time of the birth of Jesus… the Magi practiced a highly Hellenized form of astrology that was not Babylonian… The correct approach to solving the mystery of the Star of Bethlehem is… to identify those astrological conditions that people of ancient times would have believed to point to a birth of a king in Judea.” (Pg. 31)
He states, “it is reasonable to say that Jesus was born between 8 B.C. and 4 B.C.” (Pg. 63) Later, he adds, “When did Jupiter have a heliacal rising in Aries during the time of interest[?]… Only ONCE, on April 17, 6 B.C., which coincides with the second lunar occultation of Jupiter!” (Pg. 89)
He summarizes, “The evidence shows that astrologers did indeed recognize the Star of Bethlehem as an extraordinary celestial portent of a royal and divine birth… the information gleaned from … the kind of astrology practiced during Roman times, reveals elements in the account of Matthew that point to a historical basis that is stronger than previously believed… ‘in the east’ … was the most important astrological phase for the regal planet, Jupiter… Jupiter’s appearance as a morning star occurred on April 17, B.C., and was accompanied by other powerful astrological aspects that pointed to a magnificent star-blessed birth.” (Pg. 116-117)
He acknowledges, “Of course, my findings cannot validate all of the details in the Bible about the birth of Jesus. For instance, the astrological evidence cannot prove that Jesus was born in Bethlehem: anyone born anywhere on April 17, 6 B.C. would have had a regal birth. It is precisely because the Magi were not sure exactly where the birth had occurred that they went to Jerusalem… to ask Herod for advice about the likely birthplace…” (Pg. 119)
He concludes, “My research … reveals much more agreement between Matthew, historical records, and astrological sources than previous inquiries have… that fortifies the case for a historical basis for the Star of Bethlehem in the account in Matthew… Because no one could identity a believable celestial event, the account of the Magi’s star has up to now been challenged as a midrash convention… or a pious dream… Undoubtedly, the new evidence that I have uncovered will have important consequences for Christians and for scholars. People can be assured that the Star of Bethlehem did indeed exist… I hope that it will give new direction to the study of ancient astrological records now that their usefulness has been demonstrated by my investigation…” (Pg. 122-123)
He adds, “I see no reason why we should hide or ignore the historical importance of astrology. Only by being open-minded about astrologers’ work can we find the truth behind our history and heritage…astrology contributed to the fashioning of the Matthean account about the Magi and their star but is also behind the Lucan account about the heavenly host.” (Pg. 125)
This book may interest some studying different theories about the Star of Bethlehem.
December 12, 2018
Having been born and raised in a Christian family, I have long been fascinated by various aspects of the Christmas narrative, one of those being Matthew's account of the Star of Bethlehem which brought the magi to Judea. Unlike previous studies of the story, the author of this book, Michael Molnar, a retired astronomer from Rutgers University in New Jersey, sets out by analyzing what the magi would have been looking for when scanning the night sky for portents of a royal birth, which, when one thinks about it, makes much more sense when trying to understand the account in its original context. Molnar also acknowledges the role of ancient astrology, which was a far more scientific practice in its day than the current form, with its somewhat commercialized superstitious, even occultic, undertones.
In short, this is a great book for Christians and non-Christians alike - it strives to remain true to the original Biblical text without being religious, and uses primary source data from ancient historical sources to provide sound academic analysis. By showing the account to be a plausible historical event, this book has strengthened my faith, especially in being able to continue to trust the Bible as an accurate and reliable record of human history.
In short, this is a great book for Christians and non-Christians alike - it strives to remain true to the original Biblical text without being religious, and uses primary source data from ancient historical sources to provide sound academic analysis. By showing the account to be a plausible historical event, this book has strengthened my faith, especially in being able to continue to trust the Bible as an accurate and reliable record of human history.
December 10, 2010
It's been a while since I've read this book. But from what I remember, it gives a pretty good argument using a host of sources including astrology that Jesus was probably born around April 17, and not December 25.
September 25, 2011
Molnar has an interesting theory. He starts from coin collecting and then analyzes astrology from the eastern mindset of the time. Although the read is a bit like slogging through a graduate thesis sometimes, it is worthwhile.
September 24, 2016
Very interesting and scientific!
November 27, 2016
Interesting theory that the star of Bethlehem proclaiming the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The Magi, wise men, they studied astrology and the star was an alignment of astrological portent.
December 22, 2017
The writing here could be better, especially since the headline for the book suggests that some historical mystery will unfold, and then Molnar tells you right up front what his argument is, leaving little to be unfolded. Still, the argument is strong and fascinating, that the star of Bethlehem was actually the planet Jupiter that had immense meaning because of the alignment of other planets and stars. The role of ancient astrology looms large, assigning meaning to various portents, which makes sense, since the wise men would have been astrologers or at least aware of astrological meaning.
My problem with the book is that he doesn't give enough credence to other arguments. Molnar dismisses those without much refutation, as if they are obviously silly. One in particular: that the star could have been a comet. Molnar makes the case that it can't have been a comet because, in those days, a comet was not a positive but a negative sign, portending doom to royalty. How, then, could a comet announce the birth of a new king? Ironically, Molnar references the story of the wise men appearing to King Herod as proof that they believed the sign was a positive one, without ever mentioning that to King Herod the sign was terrible and awful. Herod immediately tries to suppress the meaning of 'the star,' as a king would if presented with a sign of doom. Based on the biblical story, it could go either way, positive or negative, but Molnar doesn't seem to recognize that. There are at least two other instances of Molnar's not properly addressing other possibilities, assuming that his argument is clearly the only possibility. A good author obviously believes in his own opinion, but that doesn't mean that a solid understanding of other opinions isn't appropriate.
My problem with the book is that he doesn't give enough credence to other arguments. Molnar dismisses those without much refutation, as if they are obviously silly. One in particular: that the star could have been a comet. Molnar makes the case that it can't have been a comet because, in those days, a comet was not a positive but a negative sign, portending doom to royalty. How, then, could a comet announce the birth of a new king? Ironically, Molnar references the story of the wise men appearing to King Herod as proof that they believed the sign was a positive one, without ever mentioning that to King Herod the sign was terrible and awful. Herod immediately tries to suppress the meaning of 'the star,' as a king would if presented with a sign of doom. Based on the biblical story, it could go either way, positive or negative, but Molnar doesn't seem to recognize that. There are at least two other instances of Molnar's not properly addressing other possibilities, assuming that his argument is clearly the only possibility. A good author obviously believes in his own opinion, but that doesn't mean that a solid understanding of other opinions isn't appropriate.
June 28, 2024
This was different. It was not something that was in my wheelhouse. I have never studied astrology and didn't have any desire to but someone in the church lent it to me and I am now on a campaign to finish all the books lent to me at the beginning of the year.
It was a hard read because the terminology took some getting used to in fact, I would have to read it again, or at least other books like it.
I appreciate the Appendices and glossaries in the back. This was a great help in gaining more understanding.
I will say the book is thoroughly researched and the info was such that I may not only want to look into astrology, but old coins relevant to the time of Christ.
The author contends and shows almost pinpoint accuracy when the Magi arrived in Jerusalem (6 B.C.) This research and his conclusions all started with a single coin which led to further research on coins and kings and the predictability because of the stars.
According to the author Jupiter was likely the star that the Magi saw and were prompted to follow for they understood that there was to be king born.
Overall, I enjoyed the book for its insight and challenging subject matter. I would recommend it to anyone interested in this type of material.
It was a hard read because the terminology took some getting used to in fact, I would have to read it again, or at least other books like it.
I appreciate the Appendices and glossaries in the back. This was a great help in gaining more understanding.
I will say the book is thoroughly researched and the info was such that I may not only want to look into astrology, but old coins relevant to the time of Christ.
The author contends and shows almost pinpoint accuracy when the Magi arrived in Jerusalem (6 B.C.) This research and his conclusions all started with a single coin which led to further research on coins and kings and the predictability because of the stars.
According to the author Jupiter was likely the star that the Magi saw and were prompted to follow for they understood that there was to be king born.
Overall, I enjoyed the book for its insight and challenging subject matter. I would recommend it to anyone interested in this type of material.
January 26, 2026
I still think the star was an angel, but I appreciate the search and discussion for a scientific explanation. Although if the star was just Jupiter, I struggle a bit with its implications of the validity of astrology - something to ponder and consider beyond my first read of this book! Overall a fun and interesting topic to explore especially being so near to the close of the Christmas season so I’m glad for the recommendation.
July 17, 2024
This book by Michael Molnar, professor of astronomy and physics at Rutgers, is a fascinating dive into ancient history, the Bible, astrology, and modern astronomy. There are countless theories about the Star of Bethlehem, but many of them, as Molnar argues, were developed without paying sufficient attention to astrology as it was practiced at the time of Christ. Molnar cautions that what impresses us today in the night sky is often quite different from the kind of celestial events that ancient astrologers would have found notable. So he investigates ancient astrological texts and ideas in detail. This, he writes, "was a challenging task for this astronomer who does not believe in astrology."
The author's effort in that respect is why I recommend the book most strongly. It's the task of any historian to leave modern preconceptions and get into the thinking of the period being investigated. The most challenging part of this book for me, as someone who does not subscribe to astrology and knows very little about it, is definitely the lengthy dive into the technicalities of astrological concepts. But it pays off, because what you get in the end is a theory of the Star of Bethlehem developed from ancient sources -- with the assistance of modern astronomical calculations, which is what makes detective work of this kind possible.
Molnar's main focus here is investigating how the movements of celestial bodies may have been interpreted by the magi who are mentioned in Matthew's Gospel. But Molnar discusses the Biblical worldview, too, and we follow the text of Matthew closely as he asks how this evangelist may have received and interpreted an astrologically based report from magi.
I enjoyed the book both as a backyard astronomer and a lifelong student of the Bible. I particularly appreciated the author's effort to study, word by word, concept by concept, what the ancient writers were saying.
The author's effort in that respect is why I recommend the book most strongly. It's the task of any historian to leave modern preconceptions and get into the thinking of the period being investigated. The most challenging part of this book for me, as someone who does not subscribe to astrology and knows very little about it, is definitely the lengthy dive into the technicalities of astrological concepts. But it pays off, because what you get in the end is a theory of the Star of Bethlehem developed from ancient sources -- with the assistance of modern astronomical calculations, which is what makes detective work of this kind possible.
Molnar's main focus here is investigating how the movements of celestial bodies may have been interpreted by the magi who are mentioned in Matthew's Gospel. But Molnar discusses the Biblical worldview, too, and we follow the text of Matthew closely as he asks how this evangelist may have received and interpreted an astrologically based report from magi.
I enjoyed the book both as a backyard astronomer and a lifelong student of the Bible. I particularly appreciated the author's effort to study, word by word, concept by concept, what the ancient writers were saying.
February 7, 2017
Interesting premise, but it was a hard book to get through. The writing was way too dry and academic for me.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews