Social Stratification of the Jewish Population of Roman Palestine in the Period of the Mishnah, 70–250 CE

Description

This book defines, uncovers, dissects, and arranges the economic groups in Roman Palestine in the first centuries CE. It shows that, alongside the rich and poor, there were significant middling groups that constituted the backbone of Jewish society. Contents Abbreviations Preface Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Methodology 2 Sources of the Study: Literature and Archeology 3 Historical Background and Chronology 4 The Roman Economy 5 Structure and Stratification in Roman Society 6 Outline and Structure 7 Sources and Translations Chapter 2 Dissecting the Poor Strata of Jewish Society in Roman Palestine, 70–250 CE 1 The Poor and Poverty in the Old Testament 2 The Poor in Non-Biblical Second Temple Literature 3 The Poor in the New Testament 4 Summary 5 The Poor and Poverty in Rabbinic Sources 6 Borderline Poor 7 “Poor” Can Be a Relative Term 8 Historical Background for the Spread of Poverty in Jewish Society 9 Summary 10 Substratification of the Poor in the Roman World 11 Rabbinic Attitudes toward the Poor after the Destruction of the Temple 11.1 Interest in the Poor and Poverty 11.2 Encouraging Charity for the Poor 11.3 Assuming Community Responsibility for the Poor 11.4 Recommended Strategy to Avoid Poverty 11.5 Rabbinic Theological Approach to Poverty 11.6 Summary Chapter 3 The Laborer (Po’el): On Both Sides of the Poverty Line 1 The Use of the Word Po’el from the Bible to Second Temple Literature 2 The Laborer in Josephus and the New Testament 3 The Laborer in Rabbinic Sources 3.1 The Laborer and His Working Conditions 4 The Laborer’s Economic Situation 5 Summary 6 Laborers in the Roman World Chapter 4 Craftsmen and Artisans: the Low Middle Class 1 Crafts in the Roman Empire 2 The Craftsman in Archeological Finds in Roman Palestine 3 The Literary Sources 4 The Craftsman in the Old Testament 5 The Craftsmen in Non-Biblical Second Temple Literature 7 The Craftsmen in Rabbinic Literature 8 Further Development of Terminology of Craftsmen 8.1 Ba’alei Umanuyot 8.2 Beit Ha’uman: the Workshop of the Craftsman 8.3 The Expert: Tsaba Uman, Rofeh Uman 9 Historical Background 10 Rabbinic Endorsement of Craftsmanship 11 Summary Chapter 5 The Independent Farmer (Ba’al Habayit) 1 The Term “Ba’al Habayit” (“Homeowner”) from Biblical Times until the First Century CE 2 New Testament: Home and Landowner 3 Development of Dominus in Roman Legal Vocabulary 4 Ba’al Habayit in Tannaitic Sources 5 Landowners Representing Members of a Social Group 6 The Economic Status of the Ba’al Habayit 7 Was the Landowner, Ba’al Habayit, Rich? 8 The “House” of the “Householder” (Ba’al Habayit) in Archeological Findings 9 Historical Background 10 The Small Landowner in the Roman Empire 11 Conclusion Chapter 6 The “Rich” 1 The “Rich” in the Old Testament and Second Temple Literature 2 The “Rich” in the New Testament 3 The Attitude toward the Rich in the New Testament 4 Summary 5 The Term “Wealthy” in Early Rabbinic Literature 6 Terminology for Wealth 7 Rabbinic Attitudes toward the Rich and Powerful 8 Summary 9 Subdivision of the Wealthy Stratum 10 The Wealthy in Rabbinic Narrative 11 Rich Individuals in Roman Palestine 12 Archeology of Wealth 13 Dwellings in the Vicinity of Roman Palestine: Southern Syria 14 Conclusion Epilogue Bibliography Index of Modern Authors General Index