 |
| The Tyrian Shekel |
Hello My Friend and Welcome.
One of the largest hoards of ancient coins ever
found was discovered in Israel in the spring of 1960 at a village called Isifa on
Mount Carmel. The hoard consisted of 3,400 Tyrian Shekels, 1,000 Half-Shekels,
and 160 Roman Denarii minted during Augustus’ reign. The bulk of the Shekels
and Half-Shekels were dated from 20-53 AD.
At first glance this strange mix of coins at first
seems to defy logic. At the time these coins were hidden, the Shekel was not in
regular circulation. And both the
Gospels and Josephus indicate that the coinage of that era was almost
exclusively Roman. This means that the hoard could not have belonged to a
private owner, or come from a bank or military strong box.
PAYING THE
TEMPLE TAX
In the middle of the first century, the only use for
Tyrian Shekels was payment of the prescribed Temple Tax. Every male Jew of 20
years of age and above had to pay a yearly tax of half a Shekel to support the
Temple in Jerusalem. If we assume that the Mount Carmel hoard represents a
shipment of taxes due the Temple, the question of its strange composition
becomes clear.
Consider first that they were predominantly Tyrian Shekels which were of sufficient
quality for Temple use. The Half-Shekels, however, were minted in Antioch by
the Romans and were under weight. Therefore the Misnah stipulated that an agio, or small additional percentage, of
4-8% was required along with the Half-Shekel to bring it up to full value. In other
words, if you paid for two people with a Tyrian Shekel, you were home free, but
if you paid just for yourself with a Half-Shekel you had to add in the agio. This is proven by Matthew 17:24-28
in which Peter is told to catch a fish with a Shekel in its mouth…a sufficient
tax for both himself and Jesus.
Interestingly enough, the 160 Denarii represents an
agio of exactly 8% on the 1,000
Half-Shekels found in the hoard. The presence of the Augustinian Denarii is
explained by the fact that the inflated Denarii of Nero were rejected by the
Temple treasury. Only the full-weight Denarii of Augustus were considered acceptable
payment.
UNRAVELING
THE RIDDLE
If one assumes that the hoard represents a
shipment of taxes destined for the Temple, the answer to not only where they
came from, but also when it was concealed becomes clear.
Fact One: The hoard represents the Temple-Dues of
7,800 male Jews of more than 20 years of age, or a community of approximately 30,000
Jews.
Fact Two: According to the Mishnah, the Temple Tax
for all of Palestinia was due at the Temple by the beginning of April. Egypt
and Phoenicia were due in June, and Babylon, Mesopotamia and all other regions
in September.
Based on this timetable, the entire Temple Tax could
not have reached its destination before the outbreak of the Jewish-Roman War in
the summer of 66 AD. Assume for a moment that the taxes from Galilee for the
year 67 AD were delivered to the Temple in April as required. From the defeat
of Cestius Gallus in November of 66 AD until the beginning of the operations of
Vespasian the following May, the country was free of the Romans.
However the transport of the Temple Tax from
Phoenicia, which was due in June, probably reached Jewish territory in late May
of 67. By then, Western Galilee was already occupied by Vespasian and the main
roads to Jerusalem through Megiddo and Samaria were barred by the Romans.
Now assume that the convoy transporting the Temple
Tax decided to bypass Megiddo by going over Mount Carmel to Narbata and from
there to Jerusalem. However they found this way closed by a Roman detachment
under the command of Cerealis.
HOPING FOR
A QUICK END TO THE WAR
Continuing this supposition, we can assume that
the couriers hoped that the new Roman army under Vespasian would be defeated
like that of Cestius Gallus. The leaders of the convoy then decide to conceal
the money until the way to Jerusalem opened up again. Since they were coming
from Phoenicia, they chose the first acceptable spot they came to — the Jewish
village nearest the border between Phoenicia and the Jewish territory, a spot known
today as Isifa. They then selected a spot near the ancient synagogue there, concealed
their treasure, and set about waiting for things to blow over.
However, their hopes were dashed when Jerusalem
was conquered and the Temple destroyed. The hoard of coins on Mount Carmel
remained buried until it was discovered in 1960. Now we know that fate of the
coins, but we can never know the fate of the men who buried them/
Until next time, we wish you Peace And Blessings.
No comments:
Post a Comment