Does anyone know ancient languages to know if “followed the star” could mean “obeyed the message of the star” rather than “moved in the direction of the star”?
This seems to explain a single event, but we know the magi saw an event, travelled a long distance, and then saw another, related event. Is there an event that would have happened several months later that would signify the actual birth once they were in Bethlehem, as opposed to perhaps the event that first brought them to Bethlehem?
Since the star and the wise guys only show up in Matthew, and no such phenomenon is known to have been recorded for that time in any other place on Earth, and since Luke records three shepherds, I regard the search for a solution in astronomy as a wild goose chase.