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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding reading,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Star That Astonished the World (Paperback)
Over 600 planetariums around the world have been showing the new discoveries recorded in this 280 page book. This book identifies what the real star of the Wise Men was, it also reveals the precise date and time of day when Jesus was born. This surprising information comes directly from the New Testament. The research is backed up with extensive reference to Roman and Jewish records and gives the astronomical data that can make the New Testament account of the birth of Jesus to be very understandable and also majestic beyond compare. There were planetary conjunctions that happened in the heavens in the period when Jesus was born (3 to 2 BC) about which modern astronomers have expressed awe and astonishment. This is one book that all people interested in science and the Bible should have. Although a professional scholar, Ernest L. Martin's writing style is easy to read and understand. A previous review mentions Herod's death asa major obstacle. This obstacle is made clear in this book.Potential readers include: those interested in astronomy, astrology, early Roman history, mainline Christianity, students of Bible Chronology and Prophecy, religious teachers and university professors.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who were the Magi? Read and be fascinated, or rather "Astonished!",
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Star That Astonished the World (Paperback)
Take a simple question like, "Who were the Magi?" Put it to someone like Ernest L. Martin, Ph.D. Turn him loose to do the research. Now you can take a few minutes and read what is only a gleaning of four chapters on the subject.
------------------------------------------------------------- The simple teaching of the Gospel of Matthew states that astrologers came from the eastern part of the world to pay homage to the newborn "King of the Jews" and to present him with the customary gifts that were generally accorded to new kings. The word that was used to describe them was "Magi." This was a title and in the 1st century it signified that they were professional astrologers. We are told by the ancient historian Herodotus that they were originally one of the six tribes of the Medes, a priestly caste similar to the Levites among the Israelites. In their early history their occupation was to provide the kings of the Medes, Persians and Babylonians with what they considered to be divine information about the daily matters involving government affairs. Their role in interpreting divine matters for kings and rulers is mentioned in the Bible. The prophet Daniel in the time of King Nebuchadnezzar became the "master of the magicians [master of the Magi], astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers." (Dan 5:11). The prophet Jeremiah mentioned that a chief authority among the Magi was called the Rab-Mag. (Jer 39:3, 13 RSV). The prophet Daniel most likely was assigned to this high office. Perhaps the fraternization of Daniel with the early Magi in Babylon helps to explain why those in the Magian profession expected a Jewish king to arrive near the end of the 1st century. This is the very thing that Daniel prophesied would happen. Recall that Daniel prophesied the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonians destroyed it in the 6th century B.C. He also said that 490 years would pass from a command to rebuild Jerusalem until a world-embracing messianic kingdom would emerge on the earth in the region of Palestine (Dan 9:24-27). Josephus, the Jewish historian [from the end] of the 1st century, mentioned a conviction among the Jews that this prophecy of Daniel would have its fulfillment within the 1st century. [He] said that it was shown in the "sacred writings that about that time one from their country [Judea] should become governor of the habitable earth." (Josephus, War VI.313) There can be no doubt that the Magi in Mesopotamia would have been aware of these prophetic indications among the Jews. In fact, scholars today are able to see that there was a great deal of mingling of beliefs between the Jews and the Magi at this period of time. This was because of their connections with one another since the 6th century B.C. Even the Romans were aware of the prophecies of Daniel. Suetonius in the early 2nd century said, "A firm belief had long prevailed through the east that it was destined for the empire of the world at that time to be given to someone who should go forth from Judea." (Suetonius, Vespasian, 4). The Roman Emperor Nero was advised by one or two of his court astrologers: it was prudent for him to move his seat of empire to Jerusalem because that city was then destined to become the capital of the world. (Suetonius, Nero, 40) All of these widespread beliefs were based on the prophecies of Daniel. Since Jewish people lived in all areas of the Roman and Parthian worlds, their national aspirations would have been well known. (Josephus, Antiquities XI.133; War II.398; VII.43). Jews in the 1st century respected the Magi. The Jewish philosopher by the name of Philo, who lived in Alexandria, Egypt during the time of Jesus, spoke of the Magi with warm praise. Philo said they were men who gave themselves to the study of the laws of nature and that they contemplated on the divine perfections. To Philo they were worthy of being counselors of kings. (Philo, Quo. Probus Liber, 74). The main occupation of the Magi was their interpretation of things they considered divine. They principally dealt with the evaluation of dreams, visions and astronomical signs. Astrological interpretation was of special importance to them. The temple of Belus in the city of Babylon was in their care. In particular, they were advisors to kings and princes. Though Herod would have had his own court astrologers, he must have paid particular attention to what the respected Magian professionals from the east had to say about a newborn Jewish king. Their interpretations were especially sought out by prominent people because of the Magian influence in the royal courts of the east. In fact, the Magi were in such high regard in Parthia that some even became kings. Even the Magi who came to Jesus were also considered as being "princes" or "kings" in some early accounts. But when the Magi came to Jerusalem, they arrived to do homage to the new Jewish king and to give gifts to him. In the next century, Tiridates of the order of the Magi did the same thing when he visited the emperor Nero. It is no wonder that the arrival of such Magi caused great interest to Herod and Jerusalem. In explaining to King Herod why they came to do homage to the new Jewish king, the Magi said, "We saw his star...." The Greek denotes it wasn't merely "in the east" that the Magi observed it. [So, our version of Matthew's Gospel is accurate: "We saw his star at its rising" (Mt 2:2) or "when it rose."] Scholars realize that the Greek words employed by Matthew to record this event were the ordinary ones then used in Greek literature to describe the regular rising of the stars or planets. The plain meaning of the words suggest that the Magi had witnessed a "star" rise above the eastern horizon when making their normal pre-dawn observations of the heavens. It was one "star" that intrigued them, though it must have been in some unusual relationship or aspect with other celestial bodies. The Magi were so impressed that they made their long, difficult journey to Jerusalem with costly gifts to present to the new king. After hearing their account, King Herod and all Jerusalem were equally persuaded that the "star" was significant. Herod would have been aware of the outstanding celestial displays that had occurred from May 3 B.C. to August 2 B.C. His own court astrologers would certainly have given him their interpretations of these remarkable signs. But Herod wanted more information. Since the various nations and racial groups had different standards for astrological interpretations, Herod would have wanted to know the Magian version of what the signs were indicating. Herod and all Jerusalem would hardly have been troubled by what they considered impostors. But if the Magi had come from the court of the Parthian kings who employed Magi in the religious affairs of their government, or from the respected Magian colleges of the east, it would have been a different matter in the view of Herod and the Jewish authorities. The Magi left him in no doubt about their interpretations. They were so certain of their evaluations that they made a long journey to Jerusalem to give rich gifts to the newborn king. So important was this child to them that they even came as well to give him homage. This meant that they recognized the newborn as a personage of special significance. This is what Matthew in the New Testament related. Like the Romans sixty years before, Herod was so convinced of the interpretations of the Magi that he killed the boy babies in and around Bethlehem to prevent this newborn "king" from being reared to adulthood. Herod was astonished by the appearance of this "star" and he was persuaded that the "Star of the Magi" was significant and important. ------------------------------------------------------------- What did they see? First, remember: the position of the planets and stars can be calculated with accuracy back through history. Remember also some of the many celestial Messianic references found in Scripture that would have been known at that time: "A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel" (Num 24:17) "Judah, like a lion's whelp, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches like a lion ... the king of beasts ... the scepter shall never depart from Judah" (Gen 49:9-10). "The lion of the tribe of Judah" (Rev 5:5). "I am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star" (Rev 22:16). Computations, now used in planetariums, show that, on August 12th, 3 B.C., Jupiter rose as a morning star above the eastern horizon which soon came into conjunction with Venus. This was the beginning of a journey in which six conjunctions of Jupiter with other planets and the "royal star" Regulus, in Leo (the Lion, the constellation of Judah), would take place. On September 14th, 3 B.C., moved to unite with Regulus (this was repeated two more times). The result, on August 27th, 2 B.C., would be the visual planetary union of Mars, Venus (the Mother), and Mercury (the Messenger) with Jupiter. Jupiter would soon leave the "massing" and continue in its westward motion. It would have been visible to the Magi each morning, as it "went ahead of them" ["preceded them" (Mt 2:9)]. Once on the same elliptical path as the Earth, it would have "appeared" to have stopped or seemed "stationary" for about six days. On December 25th, 2 B.C., Jupiter would have "stopped" (Mt 2:9) precisely over Bethlehem (68o above the southern horizon) and could have been witnessed from Jerusalem. A remarkable circumstance is that when Jupiter (the King planet), was visibly "stationary," it would have appeared to an observer to have stopped in the abdomen (womb) region of the constellation Virgo (the Virgin). Jesus would have been approximately two years old now (born early 3 B.C.). Herod therefore chose those boys two and under to be slaughtered. Fascinating, must read book, for the curious, that supports this and other Biblical accounts.
16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting opinion,
By Michele Crudele (ROMA, RM Italy) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Star That Astonished the World (Paperback)
While the problem of the Star of Bethlehem is not yet solved, Martin's book come up with a different date for Christ's birth. Everything depends on the death of Herod. He says that it was not in the year 4 b.C., as almost everybody states. He gives some good reasons, but other authors disagree with him. Anyway, it is a valuable book for those who are interested in the topic. Any paper on the Star of Bethlehem now mentions it as a reference. I appreciate the effort of analizing the Gospel looking for historical evidence. I'm even thinking of translating it into Italian...
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