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Topic:
Custom
With regard to the word "custom…"
A tax imposed by the Romans. The tax-gatherers were termed publicans
(q.v.), who had their stations at the gates of cities, and in the public
highways, and at the place set apart for that purpose, called the
"receipt of custom" (Matt.9: 9; Mark 2:14), where they
collected the money that was to be paid on certain goods (Matt.17:25).
These publicans were tempted to exact more from the people than was
lawful, and were, in consequence of their extortions, objects of great
hatred. The Pharisees would have no intercourse with them (Matt.5:46,
47; 9:10, 11). A tax or tribute (q.v.) of half a shekel was annually
paid by every adult Jew for the temple. It had to be paid in Jewish coin
(Matt. 22:17-19; Mark 12:14, 15). Money-changers (q.v.) were necessary,
to enable the Jews who came up to Jerusalem at the feasts to exchange
their foreign coin for Jewish money; but as it was forbidden by the law
to carry on such a traffic for emolument (Deut. 23:19, 20), our Lord
drove them from the temple (Matt. 21:12: Mark 11:15).
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries
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