Well as it happens the Romans occupied pretty much all of what would later be called Europe, Africa up to the borders of the deserts, all of the Middle East and parts of what would later become Russia. Augustus was declared Pater Patriae or 'Father of the Country' and what a vast country it was.
The other big event at this time was the celebration of the founding of the city of Rome 750 years before.
Because of this Augustus ordered a census be taken and every head counted. The word census comes from the Latin 'Censere' which means 'to estimate'. The Roman census was one of the most developed of any of the censuses recorded in the ancient world. It was carried out every five years and was a record of both population and property. Any guess as to why properties must also be accounted for? Taxation, of course!
t is supposed that it wasn't just a head count but that taking part in the census also meant one must sign a pledge of allegiance to Augustus and to the Roman Empire declaring that Cesar Augustus was sovereign. The census wasn't a voluntary thing, and one would suppose neither had the signing of the oath of allegiance been voluntary.
The Jews were accustomed at this time to the Roman occupation but Augustus' decree that they sign an oath of allegiance was galling. The Jews knew only God was sovereign.
The Israelites paid a lot of taxes. The Head tax was a tax for every adult 14-25 years of age. This tax was probably about a Denarius per year, or about the cost of one day's wage for a laborer. It would have been exacted on all men and possibly wives as well.
There was a land tax which was paid for the produce of the land, probably 10% of what was grown. Tenants paid the tax too, because it was usually figured into rent by the landowner. In a city, a house tax was exacted and then a city tax would also be paid.
And then there were taxes on water, meat and salt and a road tax.
On top of that goods coming into the 'frontier' country of Israel were also charged a tax at every stop they made on the way to the country. At every port, important cross roads, place of commerce and at offices by city gates taxes were paid. By the time some goods reached their destination the cost to consumers had increased 100xs.
It was estimated that Herod's kingdom of Judah paid 4.8 million denarius annually to Rome. That was money that he collected from his governors and doesn't include any extra that was extorted from the people of the country by every governor, official and tax collector.
The Jews also paid tithes and a tax to their own temple. Tithes were 10% of the year's produce or funds earned and the annual Temple tax of 1/2 shekel for every Jew over the age of 20.
While in most governments, taxes are used for the running of the government, keeping roads in repair, etc., it is unlikely anyone under the rule of Cesar Augustus was seeing a great deal of benefit from the taxes paid, especially when you add in every extortion minded collector. Everyone upline got a cut but enough of the money generated made it's way to Rome to further enrich and enable the Romans to hold captive many countries.
Isn't it awesome how God can arrange circumstances? Man thinks he's in charge, but all along God has his hand upon men and guides them to his own purposes.
Song: Sovereign Over Us Vineyard Worship featuring Beth McNeil
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