Census of Quirinius

Around the 1st century AD, into what sized regions did Romans break up their territories for censuses? Did they break it up by city or some larger unit?

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In the 1st century AD, during the Roman Empire, the territories were typically divided into smaller administrative units called "centuries" for census purposes. These centuries were not necessarily geographic regions but rather groups of Roman citizens. Each century comprised around 100 citizens, and the census was organized based on these units. The census was an essential tool for assessing the population, property, and military eligibility of Roman citizens. It's worth noting that this division for censuses was more focused on the population and civic responsibilities rather than strictly geographical considerations.

User
During that time, was Judea one of those centuries or multiple?
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During the time of the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD, Judea was not organized as a Roman century. Instead, it was part of the larger administrative structure of the empire. The Roman province of Judea was a territorial unit, not a century.

The Roman Empire divided its territories into various provinces, each governed by a governor appointed by Rome. Judea was one such province, and it encompassed the region where modern-day Israel and parts of the surrounding areas are located. The administration of Judea was not based on the Roman citizen-centric centuries used for censuses but rather on the broader provincial framework.

User
During the census of Quirinus, was Judea involved in the census?
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Yes, the census associated with Quirinus, also known as the Census of Quirinius, is mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the Gospel of Luke. According to the biblical account, this census was conducted when Quirinius was governor of Syria, around the time of the birth of Jesus.

Historically, the Roman census during the time of Quirinius took place in AD 6–7, and it was indeed a significant event in the Roman Empire. It aimed to assess and register the population for tax purposes. While the Gospel of Luke does mention the census and Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem for the registration, historical records suggest that the organizational details of the census might not align perfectly with the biblical account.

Judea was part of the Roman Empire at that time, and its inhabitants would have been subject to the census, as it was a widespread practice to register individuals and assess their taxable property throughout the empire.

User
The gospel of Luke seems to suggest that Jews might have migrated to their ancestral home towns for that census. Is there any extra-biblical evidence for that migration? Is there any evidence that Jews did this for their own censuses? Would Jews have done this also for a Roman census? To what extent would such a migration been to Roman tax assessment objectives? And what would have been a Roman legal response to such a migration?
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There is limited extra-biblical evidence specifically supporting the idea of a widespread migration for a Roman census during the time of Quirinius. The historical records from that period are not entirely clear on the details of such a mass movement. However, it's important to note that historical records from the ancient world can be fragmentary, and the absence of explicit evidence does not necessarily negate the possibility of such events occurring.

The concept of returning to ancestral towns for censuses or registrations is not a common practice in Jewish traditions. The biblical narrative in the Gospel of Luke is a unique account, and it's not clear how accurately it reflects historical events. Jewish censuses typically involved registration in one's place of residence rather than requiring people to return to ancestral towns.

If there were a Roman census that necessitated people returning to their ancestral towns, it might have been for administrative purposes such as tax assessment. The Roman Empire used censuses to determine the population and taxable property. Returning to ancestral towns could have been a way to assess property and individuals more accurately.

The Roman legal response to such a migration is not extensively documented. However, the Roman authorities were generally concerned with maintaining order and ensuring the effective administration of their territories. It's plausible that they would have organized the census in a way that minimized disruptions while still achieving their tax assessment objectives.

In summary, while there is limited extra-biblical evidence for the specific details of the census described in the Gospel of Luke, the historical context suggests that Roman censuses were conducted to assess population and property for taxation. The notion of returning to ancestral towns for censuses is not a common historical practice for Jews, but the details of Roman census procedures and any associated migrations are not fully documented in extant historical records.

User
Is it true that Jewish tradition broke down their own censuses by tribe? Would this have involved any migrations?
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In Jewish tradition, the census was indeed conducted with a focus on tribal affiliation. The biblical Book of Numbers (Bamidbar) provides an account of a census of the Israelites in the wilderness, and it is organized by tribe. Each tribe was counted separately, and the results were recorded accordingly.

While there is no indication in the biblical narrative of Jews needing to return to their ancestral towns for a census, the emphasis on tribal identity and organization suggests a focus on maintaining ancestral connections rather than a mass migration.

The Book of Numbers does describe the Israelites' movement and encampment in the wilderness, but this was not for the purpose of a census per se. The movement was part of their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It involved setting up and breaking camp as the Tabernacle, a central religious structure, was carried through the wilderness.

In summary, Jewish tradition, as outlined in the Book of Numbers, does break down censuses by tribe, but there is no indication of large-scale migrations for census purposes. The focus is on tribal identity and organization rather than returning to ancestral towns.