Ben C. Smith wrote:FransJVermeiren wrote:(verse 13) Calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Trade with these till I come back.’
Comment: The Roman empire consisted of 10 provinces: Italy, Achaia, Asia, Syria, Egypt, Africa, Spain, Gallia, Brittania and Germania.
When Vespasian came to power, the finances of the empire were a ruin, so he searched for money wherever he could to ameliorate the financial situation of the treasury.
Only 10 provinces? I do not think that was ever true, at least not since (early?) Republican times.
My Muir’s Historical Atlas has two pages of maps showing the provinces “in the time of Augustus” as 16 in the west not including three Alpine provinces (plus three “acquired” later) and 23 in the east (plus 8 “acquired” later). There seem to be 16 by about 395. For example Noricum, the two Pannonias and Dalmatia seem to be in one called Illyricum.
Lena Einhorn wrote:Ben C. Smith wrote:
"The Lucan version of the parable is nearly universally taken to refer to the story of Archelaus."
Wow, Archelaus makes so much sense! And the question is if the last part
refers to some beginnings of the tax census revolt (even if that was a wee bit later)
I don’t see anything in the Lucan version about the census once Archelaus is deposed. It is likely that Luke has added the Archelaus’ features.
A few years ago I suggested that the Q version was likely to have been: (ref Mt/Lk)
[14]/ [12] "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;
[15]/ [13] to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
[16] He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more.
[17] So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more.
[18] But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
[19]/ [15] Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
[20]/ [16] The first who had received the five talents came before him, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
[21] /[17] His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
[22]/ [18] And the second who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
[23]/ [19] His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
[24]/ [20] He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow;
[25]/ [21] so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
[26] But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed?
[27] Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
[28] So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
[29] /[26] `I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
It seems that I didn’t finish this, as there is no consideration of Mt 25:30.