Bruce R. McConkie
"In listing the signs to attend the birth of Jesus, Samuel the Lamanite prophesied: 'There shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld.' (Hela. 14:5.) That this new star was seen by the whole Nephite nation at the actual time of the heavenly birth, is also recorded in the Book of Mormon. (3 Ne. 1:21.) There is, however, no comparable Messianic prophecy in the Bible as we now have it. The nearest allusion to such is found in the prophecy of Balaam who, speaking of Messiah himself, said: 'There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.' (Num. 24:17.)
"But there can be little doubt that others besides the Nephites knew by revelation that great signs and wonders, including the rise of a new star, were to attend Messiah's birth. The language of the wise men, upon reaching Jerusalem, clearly assumes that the Jews were just as aware that a new star would bear record of the holy birth as they were that the birth itself should take place in Bethlehem." (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, p. 103-4)