2. The ^i5Xo^ mentioned in Mk H^^ (|| Mt26-'^ and see Lk 22^^), like the sword, is distinctly a weapon. Jn 18^ uses the general expression 6'7rXa. The f tyXa (EV ' staves ') were the wooden truncheons or clubs of the Jewish police (inrrip^Tai). Josephus {BJ il. ix. 4) mentions them as weapons used by Pilate's soldiers in attacking a crowd of J ews at Jerusalem.
J. S. Clemen.s. STALL.— See Manger.
STAR. — 1. Introductory. — Occasional reference is made in the NT to a star or stars, and, in most cases, an extraordinary significance of some kind is associated witli tlie mention of such.
Two Greek words are emploj'ed, viz. icirrrip and ac-Tpov. The latter also bears a collective meaning ( = a group of stars, a constellation), but not in the NT. ica-rrip is often applied meta- phorically (see below), xa-rpov occurs in Lk 21'-5, Ac 7-1^ ' the star of the god Rephan ' (a quotation from Am 525f-), W'^^, He 1112. Elsewhere (exc. 2 P Ii9, where (fuir^ipoi, ' day-star,' occurs) a./rryip is used.
Sometimes these references are without any special significance (e.g. Ac 27^", He 11^^ 'as the stars of heaven in multitude '), but more often some definite symbolical application is apparent, as, for example, when a period of calamity mark- ing a Divine visitation is described as a time when the light of the sun and the moon is with- drawn and 'the stars fall from heaven ' (Mt 24-^ II Rev 6^^ S^o- " ; cf. Ezk 32^). In Rev 9^ the image of the ' fallen star ' has a personal reference, Satan
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apparently being denoted by it (cf. Lk 10"* ' I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven ') ; on the other hand, by the figure of ' the seven stars ' which Christ holds in His right hand (Rev p62'3M are signified the angels of the seven churches under the direction of Christ ; cf. 1-** (Grimm-Thayer). In Rev 12^ the ' crown of twelve stars ' may be intended to symbolize the twelve tribes (or the twelve Apostles ' regai"ded as the crowning orna- ment of the Jewish Church '). A mythological allusion is apparent in Rev 12^ ('a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon lier head a crown of twelve stars '). One pass- age (22"*) identifies Christ with ' the bright, the morning star ' (6 daTT]^) 6 Xa/xirpds, 6 TrpojLvds), in accordance with whicii also 2'-^ (' I will give him the morning star ') and 2 P 1'^ (' until the day-star [(pua^dpos] arise in your hearts ') are probably to be interpreted (see, further, below).
2. The star of the Magi (Mt 2112).— In its main outlines the story of the visit of the Magi to Jeru- salem and Betlilehem is probably based upon what the compiler of the First Gospel believed to be facts. It rests upon a historical basis. The wide- spread expectation of the coming of a World- Redeemer, about the time of the beginning of the Christian era, and the interest of Eastern astrol- ogers in His advent in the West are well attested, and may well have led to some such visit as is described in Mt.* (See, further, art. Magi). It must be remembered, however, that Mt.'s narra- tive is governed by an apologetic purpose. It was written for the special object of meeting tlie needs and objections of Jewisli readers. One influential motive at work in Mt 2 seems to be a desire on the part of the Evangelist to suggest a likeness between the Divinely guided career of Moses, the instrument of Israel's redemption from Egjq)t, and the Messianic Redeemer who saves His people from their sins. ' Thus the story of the Magi and the star has a striking parallel in the Mtdrash Rabha to Exodus in the section which deals with the birth of Moses. There we are told that Pliaraoh's astrologers (pji'^ntJONn) perceived that the mother of the future redeemer of Israel [i.e. Moses] was ^\ ith child, and that this redeemer was destined to suffer punisliment through water. Not knowing whether the redeemer was to be an Israelite or an Egyptian, and being desirous to prevent the re- demption of Israel, Pharaoh ordered that all cliildren born henceforth should be drowned. 'f But perhaps the leading motive in Mt.'s narra- tive in this section of it is to suggest tlie homage of the Gentile world, and the selection of the gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) may have been influenced by passages from OT Messianic pro- phecy which predict the allegiance of the nations (Is 60"- 5, Ps 72"- 12. 15),+ A contrast may also be intended to be suggested between the spiritual Kingship of the Messiah, and the earthly kingship of secular rulers (like Herod) who are instinctively hostile to the new force that has entered the world.
It is noticeable, however, that Mt. here does not cite any proof- passages from tiie OT (in vv.^- « the quotation from Micah is placed in the mouth of the Sanhedrin). If the compiler had in mind the passage in Nu 24'^ ('Tliere shall come fortli a star out of Jacob,' etc.), as has been sometimes sup- posed,§ his failure to cite it would indeed be sur-
* See esp. the admirable discussion in W. C. Allen's ' St. Matthew ' (/CC), pp. U-l.'i.