The Star (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Bo's father recognized his son's growing despair after months of working in the monotonous wheat mill. Although he had been cynical and discouraging before, he finally decided to help Bo pursue his dreams by loosening his collar and knocking out the Miller, giving Bo the chance to escape.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Bo's father had dismissed his dreams of joining the Royal Caravan as impossible, making his sudden change of heart more meaningful.

• bo
• father
• wheat mill
• escape
• royal caravan
• donkey

Bo was hiding under a table at the wedding feast while fleeing from the Miller who was chasing him. Mary discovered him there and noticed his injured leg, showing him compassion. Joseph denied owning the donkey, so Mary named him Boaz and allowed him to stay.

Foreshadowing: Bo had just escaped the wheat mill and was running through the streets when he reconnected with his friend Dave.

• bo
• mary
• joseph
• wedding feast
• donkey
• nazareth

King Herod felt threatened when the Wise Men told him they had come to find the newborn king who was born to receive gifts. Herod was the current king and viewed any mention of a new king as a challenge to his power and throne.

Foreshadowing: The Wise Men had been traveling to find the Messiah, which directly conflicted with Herod's position as ruler.

• herod
• wise men
• three kings
• threat
• newborn king
• palace

King Herod sent his hunter Thaddeus and his two dogs Rufus and Thaddeus to eliminate the threat of the newborn king. The dogs cornered Abby the mouse to force her to reveal information about Mary and the location of the baby.

Foreshadowing: Abby had witnessed the angel's announcement to Mary and was spreading the news among the animals.

• abby
• mice
• thaddeus
• rufus
• hunter
• dogs
• herod
• hunt

While trying to protect Mary and Joseph from the hunter and dogs, Bo created a chain reaction in the marketplace. His actions caused chaos that resulted in the hunter falling down a well, allowing Mary and Joseph to escape.

Foreshadowing: Bo had previously caused trouble in the village while evading capture, establishing his tendency to create chaotic distractions.

• bo
• hunter
• well
• market
• escape
• chase
• Bethlehem

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, the city was completely full due to the census. Every inn turned them away, leaving them no choice but to seek shelter in a stable where Jesus would eventually be born.

Foreshadowing: The timeline established that Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem for the census, which was a Roman decree.

• bethlehem
• inn
• stable
• mary
• joseph
• no room
• census

In the climactic confrontation, all the animals in the stable banded together to confront the hunter who was still trying to harm Mary and her newborn baby. They managed to push him off a cliff, ending his threat permanently.

Foreshadowing: The animals had been gathering in the stable precisely because of the star's light, which drew them to the prophesied location.

• hunter
• thaddeus
• animals
• cliff
• defeat
• final battle
• stable

The animals in the stable, including Zach the ox, Edith the cow, and Leah the sheep, couldn't find peace because the bright light from the star was blinding them. They were troubled and restless until Bo realized this was the prophesied location for the Messiah's birth.

Foreshadowing: The star had Men throughout their journey and was visible been guiding the Wise throughout the film.

• star
• stable
• animals
• light
• Bethlehem
• manger
• blindness

Ruth was disillusioned with her flock and felt uninspired by their mundane existence. When she met Bo and Dave during their journey, she decided to leave her flock to join them, seeking something more meaningful than her boring life in the fields.

Foreshadowing: Ruth's desire for adventure mirrors Bo's own longing to escape his ordinary life at the wheat mill.

• ruth
• sheep
• flock
• join
• adventure
• bo
• dave
• bethlehem

The bright star was shining directly above the stable in Bethlehem, guiding both the animals and the Wise Men to the location. Bo, having been trapped in the stable earlier, knew the place and escaped to bring Mary and Joseph there.

Foreshadowing: The star had appeared in the sky since the angel announced Jesus's coming, and Deborah had been insisting they were following the star to meet the Messiah.

• star
• animals
• mary
• joseph
• bethlehem
• stable
• wise men
• location