December 6, 2015: Getting Ready for the Showdown – Michael Hidalgo

On the surface, taking a census does not seem to matter much. It’s just a government counting its people, right? Not exactly. A census was directly connected to paying tribute (taxes) to the Roman Empire. And few things rubbed against Jewish sensibility like paying tribute to Caesar. The tribute paid to Caesar financed imperial domination and the income of the oppressor (this gives a small insight into why tax collectors were so reviled). If one were so inclined to not pay tribute – or encourage others to do the same – it was considered high treason. 

Still, many rebelled. Judas of Gamla refused to pay tribute based on the belief that God, and God alone, was their King. When his movement was countered by Joazar (the High Priest) Joazar was overrun by the crowds. Why? Because tribute posed not just a heavy burden on the people of Israel, but a religio-political question: Who is your God and King?