The star out of Jacob
The Old Testament
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
Numbers 24:17
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In the New Testament
asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:2
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The pagan seer Balaam, hired to curse Israel, sees far off a star rising out of Jacob and a sceptre out of Israel.
In the time around Jesus this text was widely read as messianic, including in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Around AD 132 Rabbi Akiva called the rebel Simon bar Kosiba 'Bar Kokhba', son of the star, precisely on the basis of this verse. In Matthew the wise men follow a star; in Revelation Jesus calls himself 'the bright and morning star'.