stephan huller

In all fairness there is evidence to suggest that at least some Jews argued it was a one time only tax not a yearly tax:

http://books.google.com/books?id=btS...ime%22&f=false

Sheshbazzar

If the words of The Scriptures are to be taken of any value as to order of such things, the opinions of 'some Jews' speaking in open rebellion and opposition to the Ordained and Authorized Levitical Priesthood, are of no value in determining the rightness of what was done under their Elohim given auspices.

If the Temple Priests and Sanhedrin made any 'Decision' to collect the half-shekel annually then that Decision was their exclusive Elohim-given prerogative to make. No one else's.

This was the workings of that authority vested by YHWH and the THE LAW of Scripture exclusively in them, and not in the opinions of 'some Jew' non-Temple dissidents, that prevails.

outhouse

If you stuidied temple tax you would know its voluntary

http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post...m.aspx#Article


Every year, a Jewish man, 20 years old and older, paid a voluntary half shekel Temple tax to the Jerusalem Temple. This tax, instituted by Moses (Ex 30:11–16), was paid in either the Tyrian shekel (for himself and another person) or half-shekel (for only himself) during the Second Temple period (Mishnah Bekhoroth 8:7; Babylonian Talmud Kiddushin 11a).

stephan huller

The half-shekel is certainly not voluntary. It is obligatory and is viewed as such by Jews Samariitans and Karaites. Here is the relevant passage in Shekalim (the rabbinic sources consistently call the half-shekel a 'shekel')

Additional gifts could be brought at the same time, as implied by the Targum of 2 Kings 12.4, where a few words are added to a text about voluntary gifts to the Temple so that the first half speaks about the half-shekel and then second about additional contributions.

outhouse

ive showed two sources claiming voluntary temple tax



should I find more?

stephan huller

I am Jewish. I don't care what Christians say. For every crackpot white person there is the testimony of the fathers:

stephan huller

On the 'about' page of the organization from which you cite that information: http://www.biblearchaeology.org/about/

I have noticed you tend to draw information from Christian apologists. I'm fine with a believer who does so to found his faith. But what perplexes is me is Atheist symbol beside your name. Why are you consistently borrowing from Christian apologists?

stephan huller

I have never had sex with a Samaritan woman (there are only 350 in the world and of those only about 200 are age appropriate) nevertheless I am very intimate what their tradition as well. They actually have two week called Simmot afsa (Passover) and Simmot assakkot (Tabernacles) which is the time when the calendar for the next six months is distributed by the high priest or his assistant - the people pay on this occasion the "ransom" of Exod 30:11-16 - as an annual poll tax at this time. It is yearly and it is certainly obligatory.

outhouse

In this case I just did a search for voluntary temple tax and posted what came up, I knew it from past work.

a few months ago i was in a long thread regarding taxation and took the mandatory stance, and was presented with voluntary information. If im not mistaken there is scripture to back this as well.

I could care less either way, it doesnt make or break my case for a anti taxation teacher HJ at all. Its pretty clear in scripture. Im not bothered by the lack of refference in scripture for two reasons, the roman audience. And the fact all jews were aware or the hatred for roman taxation and it was common knowledge amd didnt need to be taught.

outhouse

there was a list of taxation, and how the jews were taxed. its a amazing list very deep with ways they extorted money from judaism and kept them in extreme poverty, while the Saducees gained wealth by getting in bed with romans.