And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons, and days, and years. Let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.

Genesis 1:14–16

There is a thought rattling around my brain. It has it’s anchor here in the Bible. I thought I could coax it all out in one post, but alas… It will be in a series of I do not know how many.

God made the heavens. He set the sun and the moon to indicate seasons, days, and years. He made the stars also. That is the point from which to launch.

Kokabim

The Hebrew word for stars here is kokabim. It is the plural of the Hebrew word kokab. The total amount of stars created is never given, but it is referenced as a number that is uncountable (Genesis 22:17.) Yet God counts them and calls them all by name.

He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names.

Psalm 147:4

This is witnessed again for us in the prophets.

To whom then will you liken Me, that I should be equal to him? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 40:25–26

We have these two portions of Scripture that testify to the vast number of stars. We also see that stars are personified; they are given names. The prophet Isaiah reveals to us a different way to describe stars. He uses the Hebrew word tsaba, which is translated into English as host. To understand, the word host is a word that primarily refers to many persons assembled and appointed for military purposes.

The word tsaba was introduced in Genesis.

So the heavens and the earth, and all their hosts, were finished.

Genesis 2:1

The Bible speaks to many references of the host of heaven, like a favorite in 1 Samuel 17:45 where David names Him Jehovah Tsaba (LORD of Hosts.) David is speaking of God) as the Lord of Hosts.

A Star from Jacob

The Bible also likens Jesus to a star in a prophecy given by Balaam.

“I will see him, but not now; I will behold him, but not near; a star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel, and will crush the borderlands of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. Edom will be a possession, and Seir, a possession of its enemies, while Israel does valiantly. One out of Jacob shall have dominion, and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Numbers 24:17–19

At His first advent, the birth of Jesus was heralded by His star.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who was born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

Matthew 2:1–2

When they heard the king, they departed. And the star which they saw in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great excitement. And when they came into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:9–11

I had to add that because of the phrase when they saw the star, it occurs to me that it may be a reference to Jesus as well as the star in the sky. That is my speculation… But back on topic.

The prophecy given by Balaam has a parallel with the one given by John.

I saw heaven opened. And there was a white horse. He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written, that no one knows but He Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood. His name is called The Word of God. The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, with which He may strike the nations. “He shall rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury and wrath of God the Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:11–16

I jumped a bit too far ahead but wanted to establish this firmly. The kokabim are an army led by none other than Jesus Christ. They were created at the beginning. There is another term associated with stars that we must also consider. That is sons of God. Tuck all these things into your memory banks, as you will need them to understand the next posts.

Kokabim as Messengers

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. Who has determined its measurements, if you know? Or who has stretched the line upon it? To what are its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:4–7

I have not begun to exhaust the references of stars as angels. I will leave that for your own endeavors. As it is the glory of kings to search out a matter. Yet amongst all those different references to stars as persons with a military calling, they also serve another purpose.

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches.

Revelation 1:19–20

This is not the first reference of the Greek word that is translated to angel here. It serves the purpose of connecting stars to angels. The Greek word translated to star is then translated in other places as messenger. Not only are stars the host of heaven, but they also serve as messengers doing God’s bidding.

It is not then too difficult to connect some dots. Let us consider what is said in this psalm:

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night declares knowledge. There is no speech and there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has He set a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; it rejoices as a strong man to run a race. Its going forth is from one end of the heavens, and its circuit extends to the other end, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Psalm 19:1–6

The firmament is the home of the stars. It shows His handiwork and proclaims a message. It is one not spoken aloud. Note the change to the personal pronoun. Their line goes to all the Earth. In other words, the messengers of heaven are telling us something not using words. Something that is available to the entire Earth.

Paul quoted part of this psalm. In it he provides another witness to the personhood of the messengers.

But I say, have they not heard? Yes, indeed:
“Their voice went into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

Romans 10:18

What is fascinating is that in this portion of Romans, Paul quotes a few other passages from the Tanakh. These passages are somewhat prophetic in nature as they speak of future truth that is revealed by Paul.

But I say, did Israel not know? First, Moses says:
“I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.”
And Isaiah is very bold and says:
“I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for Me.”
But to Israel He says:
“All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Romans 10:19–21

Your Bible ought to reference the source to all those quotes. They would be easy to find. I will leave that for those inclined.

Who has believed us, and to whom has the lovingkindness of the Lord been revealed?

That is an apparent lament by these messengers. What they have conveyed is not believed. Now, I know that this idea might upset some of what y’all know. Clearly, Paul connects the messengers to the host of heaven, the angelic beings.

Is it not by hearing that brings belief and hearing is by the word of God?

But from stars (angels?)

Messengers to Witness

The charge by Paul is that Israel ought to have known. Because they did not know, they rejected their expected King. Now the ministry of God is being taken away from Israel and given to a different body. That is the beginning of Romans 9 and continues in Romans 10 and 11. It is the body of Christ, who are not a nation. And the people that speak the truth will be taken as foolish by Israel.

God revealed Himself to those that did not seek or ask for God, He revealed Himself to Gentiles as was hidden in the prophets. The arm of the Lord revealed is His mercy in that He has stretched out His hands to a disobedient and contrary people. If that is not lovingkindness, I do not know what that is.

And yes, angels were (and are) always involved.

Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? They have even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of angels, but have not kept it.”

Acts 7:52–53

How was the Law sent?

Therefore we should be more attentive to what we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken by angels was true, and every sin and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation, which was first declared by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him? God also bore them witness with signs and wonders and diverse miracles and with gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His own will.

Hebrews 2:1–4

The inspired commentary from the New Testament tells us that angels are indeed the messengers to men. The stars are messengers. It is their witness that is plain to the whole earth. There are scholars who think that the position of the stars purposely relates a witness of the Gospel and the history of creation. This information was compiled long ago in an easily accessible work called Mazzaroth or The Constellations by Frances Rolleston.

Now the foundation has been laid. Taking what we now have gleaned, let us look back to the Tanakh.

Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn the many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.

Daniel 12:3

Do you see the witness of the heavenly host, and what it conveys?

Do you consider yourself as one of those wise?

Is it not the stars who turn the many to righteousness?

The many is synechdoche. It is used to mean Israel, and by extension in the New Testament… God’s people.

It is not my intent to shame any people. It is to show that the God portrayed in the Tanakh is the loving God of the New Testament. When I read the Tanakh, the tender mercies of God are everywhere. Just reading this song of Moses moves me to tears. It demonstrates the great mercies our Lord has extended to Israel. And by them, to all of us foolish Gentiles who believe Him, He calls wise.

He said: The LORD came from Sinai and rose up from Seir to them; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of holy ones; from His right hand went a fiery law for them. Surely, He loved the people; all His holy ones are in Your hand, and they sit down at Your feet; everyone receives Your words.

Deuteronomy 33:2–3