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In Numbers, Balaam uses a star to describe a future ruler descended from Jacob. The Christian addition to the Ladder of Jacob connects this image with Jesus' birth, making the star a guide for wise men seeking God in human form.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Numbers 24:17
Hebrew Bible
15 Then he uttered this oracle: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are open, 16 the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, and who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: 17 ‘I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close at hand. A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab, and the heads of all the sons of Sheth. 18 Edom will be a possession, Seir, his enemy, will also be a possession; but Israel will act valiantly. 19 A ruler will be established from Jacob; he will destroy the remains of the city.’”
Ladder of Jacob 8:2
Pseudepigrapha, Hebrew Bible Expansions
1 Now at his coming will images of bronze and stone and all graven things utter their voice for three days. 2 And they announce to the wise men and let them know what will happen on earth, and by the star will they know the way to him, when they see him on earth whom the angels do not see above. 3 Then will the Almighty be found in a body on the earth, and encompassed by the arms of a mortal, and he renews the state of man and gives life to Eve, who died through the fruit of the tree. 4 Then will the deceit of the godless one be overcome, and all idols fall on their faces, for they will be put to shame by one who is adorned with honour, because they made lying inventions.
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Notes and References
“... The Tale of Aphroditianus starts with the uproar among the idols in Persian temples that caused the Magi to seek out Mary and Jesus in Bethlehem, and continues through the events of the Nativity and the slaughter of the innocents. The commentary to the Ladder 7:20 quotes Balaam’s prophecy, “a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17LXX). These words, and the final phrase of the verse, “and shall crush the princes of Moab,” would be familiar to pious Orthodox Christians, for the passage occurs in one of the Old Testament lessons for the Christmas service. Moreover, that same service explicitly connects the star of Jacob and the star of Bethlehem. Therefore the Slavic editors of the Palaia had good reason for associating this chapter with the Ladder 6:15 as the suitable spot to introduce extensive arguments about the miraculous and divine nature of the Nativity. ...”
Lunt, H. G.
"Ladder of Jacob: A New Translation and Introduction" in Charlesworth, James H. (ed.) The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Volume 2: Expansions of the “Old Testament” and Legends, Wisdom and Philosophical Literature, Prayers, Psalms, and Odes, Fragments of Lost Judeo-Hellenistic Works
(p. 405) Doubleday, 1985
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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