Prophecy: God has always used government as a way of guiding His people - just ask Joseph & Mary.
07 INFORMATION AGE
The story of the location of Jesus’ birth might be said to begin when the Israelites first settled in Canaan. The tribe of Judah was given much of the southern lands, including the village of Bethlehem. Hundreds of years later, when the future King David was born, the tribe of Judah continued to possess Bethlehem. Centuries later, after the exiles of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, the lines of tribal ownership seem to have dimmed in importance.
By the time of Jesus’ birth, it probably wasn’t unusual that Joseph, of the tribe of Judah, was located in Nazareth, far to the north of the original land of Judah. The Bible gives no reason why Joseph was located there, but Luke 2:4 says Joseph had to go from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea because he had to register there for the new census. It says he had to go to Bethlehem because he was of the house and line of David.
The details for the census are lost, but it is highly likely it was taken for at least two reasons: taxation and counting men eligible for the military. Historians argue about when and if the Jews were exempt for service in the Roman military, but it is highly likely the Romans would have at least wanted to know how many might be available to fight for—or against—Rome.
“In this world nothing is certain, except death and taxes.” That saying, probably as old as civilization itself, and you’re reminded of it every April.
Business is booming! One of the few times I’ve ever been able to say that. I’m the tax collector for Bethlehem, a small village about six miles south of Jerusalem. My job is to collect taxes for the Roman Empire, but there’s not much to collect in Bethlehem. Most the people here are poor, we live in “nowheresville” … we aren’t located on a trade route like other cities. We aren't a tourist destination like other cities, we don't even have restaurants to speak of, or hotels for that matter. Nowheresville, I tell ya …but what we do have: death and taxes!
Theoretically, in your world, the census is about gathering information, not about collecting taxes. In the United States and other modern countries, a census is taken every ten years or so. It is very expensive and time-consuming to take a census. The government creates lengthy forms that must be filled out. Some forms are sent by mail, or email, but many are carried to residents by census-takers who verbally ask questions. The main purpose of the census is to help governments better allocate resources and services, and to help guide policies and practices on voting. Gathering information.
We don’t observe that nicety. Whoever comes to register for the census also has to pay a tax. A small tax. After all, the government has to cover the cost of taking the census. But this tax is really rather small. The real cost is in the travel to get to the place where you register for the census.
So why is my business booming? Caesar Augustus has declared an empire-wide census! Why does that make my business boom? Part of the census is a tax valuation of real estate. If you own a significant amount of land somewhere, you have to go back to the land and get it assessed in person by the local tax collector.
Watch the episode “The Information Age.”
