Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 2:9

9 And when they had heard the King they departed, and lo the Star which they saw in the East, went before them, till it came, and stood over where the young child was.

They departed toward Bethlehem Iudah, how long their Journey was we cannot tell, some wonder, that none of the Iews did attend them in their Journey, coming out of their own Country upon such a Discovery, and impute it either to the Iews Fear of the Tyrant under which they were, or to the blindess and hardness of their Hearts, for St. Iohn tells us he came amongst his own, and they received him not; but it is possible that the Wise Mens immediate Applications were to the Court, as thinking that the most probable place to hear of one that should be born King of the Iews; and it may be questioned whether Herod, tho he called the Scribes, and the Priests together told them, that his Summoning of them was occasioned by the coming of the Wise Men, for the only Question he propounded to them, was where Christ was to be born, which they might understand without any Relation to the Wise Mens Question. Nor is it probable that Herod should be more open than needed in publishing the coming of these Wise Men or their Errand. Yet, the Text saying that not only Herod▪ but all Ierusalem was troubled, suggests to us that both their Coming, and the Occasion of it, was noised abroad, more than probably Herod could have wished, but it is like their Dismission was so private, that if any of the Iews had, had an Heart and Courage enough to have gone with them, yet they might not have had Opportunity. It is more admirable, that Herod sent none that he could securely trust with them. But the hand of God was in this thing. They shall be hid whom he will [illegible: 1 letter]ide. The Lord had prepared them a better Guide. The Star which probably had disappeared for a good time, while they were upon their Journey to Ierusalem (for they needed no Star to guide them, to so Famous a place) as soon as they were out of Ierusalem appeared again [and went before them, till it came, and stood over where the young Child was] probably, the Star appeared in the lower Region, and tho it could not point so directly that they should know the very House, yet it might point so near as by inquiry, they might easily find it, especially by the influence of God upon their Spirits, which doubtless they did not want, whether these Wise Men, were of the Posterity of Balaam, who Prophes[illegible: 1 letter]ed, Num. 24.17.19. of a Scepter that should arise out of Israel, that should smite the corners of Moab, one that should have Dominion, &c. Or this Star had any Relation to the Star mentioned there, v. 17. is very incertain: It is more probable that these Wise Men came a far further Journey, and that the Star there mentioned was not to be understood in a literal Sense, but better expounded by Simeon, Luk. 2.32. A Light to lighten the Gentles and to be the Glory of his People Israel.