Was at a Christmas service at a local church last night and the pastor was reading the Christmas story from various books of the Bible. When he got to the part about the Magi, it made me wonder. They said they came to see the new King of the Jews based on a celestial sign.
My question - on what text or prophecy were they relying in following this star? I don't recall any Old Testament passages discussing this sign or event. Am I wrong on that? If not, does that mean there are other writings/texts from Jewish scholars that exist that should be considered canonical or, at the very least, companion pieces to Isiah, etc.? Are there non-Jewish or non-Christian writers, scholars, or prophets that predicted the coming of Christ?
Btw, I already know some of you view this as fiction, so your replies are unnecessary. In other words, save the thread jacking for something else.