governor of Syria, Luke ii, 1, 2. Great difficulties have been
raised on the history of the taxing under Cyrenius, for the different
solutions of which we must refer to the commentators.
It may be observed on the passage in Luke ii, 1, 2, That the word
οἰκȣμένη, rendered _all the world_, sometimes signifies the whole of a
country, region, or district, as perhaps Acts xi, 28, and certainly Luke
xxi, 26. The expression, “all the country,” is peculiarly proper in this
place, because Galilee, as well as Judea, was included, and perhaps all
other parts in which were Jews. The word ἀπογραφὴ, which is rendered
_taxing_, should have been translated _enrolment_; as a taxation did not
always really follow such enrolment, though such enrolment generally
preceded a taxation. The difficulty of the passage is in the word ϖρώτη,
_first_, because, ten or eleven years after, there was actually a
taxation, which, as a decisive mark of subjection to the Roman power,
was very mortifying to the Jewish nation. To this taxation Gamaliel
alludes, “Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the taxing,” Acts v,
37, when mobs and riots were frequent, under pretence of liberty.
The narrative of St. Luke may be combined in the following order, which
is probably not far from its true import: “In those days Cæsar
Augustus,” who was displeased with the conduct of Herod, and wished him
to feel his dependence on the Roman empire, “issued a decree that the
whole land” of Judea “should be enrolled,” as well persons as
possessions, that the true state of the inhabitants, their families, and
their property, might be known and recorded. Accordingly, “all were
enrolled,” but the taxation did not immediately follow this enrolment,
because Augustus was reconciled to Herod; and this accounts for the
silence of Josephus on an assessment not carried into effect. “And this
was the first assessment (or enrolment) of Cyrenius, governor of Syria.
And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city;” and, as the
emperor’s order was urgent, and Cyrenius was known to be active in the
despatch of business, even Mary, though far advanced “in her pregnancy,
went with Joseph, and while they waited” for their turn to be enrolled,
“Mary was delivered of Jesus.” It is not, however, improbable, that Mary
had some small landed estate, for which her appearance was necessary.
Jesus, therefore, was enrolled with Mary and Joseph, as Julian the
Apostate expressly says.
An officer being sent from Rome to enrol and assess the subjects of a
king, implied that such king was dependent on the Roman emperor, and
demonstrates that the sceptre was departed from Judah. This occurrence,
added to the alarm of Herod on the inquiry of the Magi respecting the
birthplace of the Messiah, might sufficiently exasperate Herod, not
merely to slay the infants of Bethlehem, but to every act of cruelty.
Hence, after such an occurrence, all Jerusalem might well be alarmed
with Herod, Matt. ii, 3; and the priests, &c, study caution in their
answers to him. This occurrence would quicken the attention of all who
expected temporal redemption in Israel, as it would extremely mortify
every Jewish national feeling.
The overruling providence of God appointed, that, at the time of
Christ’s birth, there should be a public, authentic, and general
production of titles, pedigrees, &c, which should prove that Jesus was
descended from the house and direct family line of David; and that this
should be proved judicially on such a scrutinizing occasion. This
occurrence brought about the birth of the Messiah, at the very place
appointed by prophecy long before, though the usual residence of Joseph
and Mary was at Nazareth.
raised on the history of the taxing under Cyrenius, for the different
solutions of which we must refer to the commentators.
It may be observed on the passage in Luke ii, 1, 2, That the word
οἰκȣμένη, rendered _all the world_, sometimes signifies the whole of a
country, region, or district, as perhaps Acts xi, 28, and certainly Luke
xxi, 26. The expression, “all the country,” is peculiarly proper in this
place, because Galilee, as well as Judea, was included, and perhaps all
other parts in which were Jews. The word ἀπογραφὴ, which is rendered
_taxing_, should have been translated _enrolment_; as a taxation did not
always really follow such enrolment, though such enrolment generally
preceded a taxation. The difficulty of the passage is in the word ϖρώτη,
_first_, because, ten or eleven years after, there was actually a
taxation, which, as a decisive mark of subjection to the Roman power,
was very mortifying to the Jewish nation. To this taxation Gamaliel
alludes, “Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the taxing,” Acts v,
37, when mobs and riots were frequent, under pretence of liberty.
The narrative of St. Luke may be combined in the following order, which
is probably not far from its true import: “In those days Cæsar
Augustus,” who was displeased with the conduct of Herod, and wished him
to feel his dependence on the Roman empire, “issued a decree that the
whole land” of Judea “should be enrolled,” as well persons as
possessions, that the true state of the inhabitants, their families, and
their property, might be known and recorded. Accordingly, “all were
enrolled,” but the taxation did not immediately follow this enrolment,
because Augustus was reconciled to Herod; and this accounts for the
silence of Josephus on an assessment not carried into effect. “And this
was the first assessment (or enrolment) of Cyrenius, governor of Syria.
And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city;” and, as the
emperor’s order was urgent, and Cyrenius was known to be active in the
despatch of business, even Mary, though far advanced “in her pregnancy,
went with Joseph, and while they waited” for their turn to be enrolled,
“Mary was delivered of Jesus.” It is not, however, improbable, that Mary
had some small landed estate, for which her appearance was necessary.
Jesus, therefore, was enrolled with Mary and Joseph, as Julian the
Apostate expressly says.
An officer being sent from Rome to enrol and assess the subjects of a
king, implied that such king was dependent on the Roman emperor, and
demonstrates that the sceptre was departed from Judah. This occurrence,
added to the alarm of Herod on the inquiry of the Magi respecting the
birthplace of the Messiah, might sufficiently exasperate Herod, not
merely to slay the infants of Bethlehem, but to every act of cruelty.
Hence, after such an occurrence, all Jerusalem might well be alarmed
with Herod, Matt. ii, 3; and the priests, &c, study caution in their
answers to him. This occurrence would quicken the attention of all who
expected temporal redemption in Israel, as it would extremely mortify
every Jewish national feeling.
The overruling providence of God appointed, that, at the time of
Christ’s birth, there should be a public, authentic, and general
production of titles, pedigrees, &c, which should prove that Jesus was
descended from the house and direct family line of David; and that this
should be proved judicially on such a scrutinizing occasion. This
occurrence brought about the birth of the Messiah, at the very place
appointed by prophecy long before, though the usual residence of Joseph
and Mary was at Nazareth.