[The nineteenth century theologian Emil] Schürer notes that a Roman census with the purpose of imposing a Roman tax would not have occurred in Judaea. For Schürer, the sovereignty extended to client kings precluded direct Roman intervention over administrative matters. 112, 113 However, a number of scholars question Schürer, pointing out that evidence from Josephus strongly suggests Augustus exercised considerable control over Judaea, displaying a personal interest in Herod’s affairs and interceding when he was displeased, or concerned, about Herod’s actions.114
For Rome, client kingdoms were clearly meant to temporarily serve as such. Primarily occupying Rome’s borders in order to buffer against frontier lawlessness, once sufficiently ‘Romanized’ these client kingdoms were to be annexed into the Empire.115
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Author: Chris Matthiesen
Keywords: Census, Bethlehem, Roman census, Quirinian census, Lukan Census
Bible reference(s): Luke 2:1-5
Source: “A Survey of Schürer’s Challenges to the Lukan Census,” Defence & Confirmation, p. 40.
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