Tax

Money paid by citizens to support their rulers. Taxes were collected by the government and by the religious leaders in Bible times. Early Old Testament taxes included a half shekel yearly for the support of the tabernacle. This was equal to about 160 grains of barley or 8 grams of silver. This might be worth about five dollars today. Both rich and poor paid the same tax. After the Israelites demanded a king, the people had to pay heavy taxes, just as Samuel had warned. King Solomon put such heavy taxes on the people that after he died the northern tribes revolted, and the kingdom was divided.

During New Testament times the Roman rulers of Israel used local Jewish people to collect taxes for them. These men agreed to collect a certain amount for the government. Anything extra became their salary. Many tax collectors became rich that way and were hated by others because they worked for the Roman government and were not always honest.

A census for taxation brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’s birth. Later, when Jesus was an adult, Jesus told Peter that he would find a coin in a fish’s mouth to pay the temple tax. Amazing! The Pharisees tried to trick Jesus once by asking Him if taxes should be paid to Caesar. Jesus had a good answer for them!