Topical Bible: The Jews: A Commercial People

◄ The Jews: A Commercial People ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Jewish people, as depicted in the Bible, have a rich history intertwined with commerce and trade. From the earliest narratives in the Old Testament, the Jews are portrayed as a people engaged in various economic activities, which played a significant role in their societal development and interactions with surrounding nations.

Patriarchal Period

The roots of Jewish commercial activity can be traced back to the patriarchs. Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, was a wealthy man with considerable livestock, silver, and gold (Genesis 13:2). His wealth facilitated interactions with other peoples, such as his purchase of the cave of Machpelah from the Hittites (Genesis 23:16). This transaction highlights the early engagement of the Jewish patriarchs in commerce and property acquisition.

Joseph in Egypt

Joseph's account further illustrates the Jewish involvement in commerce. Sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph rose to prominence in Egypt, eventually overseeing the land's grain distribution during a severe famine (Genesis 41:56-57). His administrative skills and economic acumen not only saved Egypt but also brought prosperity to Pharaoh's house, demonstrating the Jewish capacity for commercial leadership and resource management.

The Exodus and Settlement in Canaan

During the Exodus, the Israelites carried with them the spoils of Egypt, which included gold, silver, and clothing (Exodus 12:35-36). These resources were crucial for their survival and eventual settlement in Canaan. The Promised Land itself was a region of significant trade routes, connecting Egypt with Mesopotamia and other civilizations. The Israelites' strategic location facilitated their participation in regional commerce.

Monarchical Period

Under the reigns of David and Solomon, the Jewish kingdom reached its zenith in terms of wealth and trade. Solomon, in particular, is noted for his extensive commercial enterprises. He established trade alliances with neighboring nations, such as Tyre, and engaged in the lucrative trade of horses and chariots (1 Kings 10:28-29). Solomon's fleet, in partnership with Hiram of Tyre, brought back gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks from distant lands (1 Kings 10:22), showcasing the global reach of Jewish commerce during this period.

Exilic and Post-Exilic Periods

The Babylonian Exile marked a significant shift in Jewish commercial activity. In Babylon, the Jews adapted to urban life and became involved in various trades and businesses. The prophet Jeremiah advised the exiles to "build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat their produce" (Jeremiah 29:5), encouraging economic stability and growth even in foreign lands.

Upon their return to Jerusalem, the Jews continued to engage in commerce. Nehemiah's reforms included measures to ensure fair trade practices and the observance of the Sabbath, highlighting the importance of ethical commerce (Nehemiah 13:15-22).

New Testament Era

In the New Testament, Jewish commercial activity is evident in the bustling marketplaces and trade centers of cities like Jerusalem and Capernaum. Jesus' parables often reference economic transactions, such as the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), reflecting the commercial environment of the time. The apostle Paul, a tentmaker by trade, exemplifies the Jewish tradition of combining religious devotion with economic enterprise (Acts 18:3).

Throughout biblical history, the Jews are depicted as a people deeply engaged in commerce, utilizing their skills and resources to navigate the economic landscapes of their time. Their commercial activities not only contributed to their own prosperity but also facilitated interactions with diverse cultures and nations.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 27:17
Judah, and the land of Israel, they were your merchants: they traded in your market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

In Our Last Chapter we Sought to Show that in Rev. . .
... were ready to join, there is so much truth in the words of another writer that when
once a considerable number of such a commercial people as the Jews are re ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in our last chapter we.htm

Commerce
... that, according to the Divine purpose, Israel was not intended to be a commercial
people. The many restrictions to the intercourse between Jews and Gentiles ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 12 commerce.htm

Solomon's Reign.
... To the Jews of that time this book set forth the whole of the history ... This commercial
people, through Hiram of Tyre, one of its kings, supplied the cedar wood ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xii solomons reign.htm

God and Mammon.
... of the Jews now, or the Jews of our ... foreign nations; while our old English commercial
honesty"which ... and chapels are crowded on Sundays by people whose souls ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xxvi god and mammon.htm

Second Missionary Journey
... into the open places where the people gathered and ... was constantly passing through
this great commercial city; what ... he openly testified to the Jews that Jesus ...
/.../sell/bible studies in the life of paul/study iv second missionary journey.htm

The Captivity of Judah.
... their intellectual and moral superiority the Jews, as they ... mentioned above and engaged
in commercial instead of ... life and death over their own people, but the ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xv the captivity of.htm

The Land and the People.
... for good or evil in the commercial, political, and ... and satirists of imperial Rome
about the Jews in their ... are struck by the identity of that people with their ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 17 the land and.htm

Ananias and Sapphira.
... Apostles in persuading many of the Jews to acknowledge ... In associations for political
or commercial purposes, all ... detestation and scorn; but the people at large ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture vi ananias and sapphira.htm

Acts XVIII
... and that he called them his people on account ... on a voyage for Syria, the frequent
commercial intercourse between ... into the synagogue and discoursed to the Jews. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xviii.htm

The Judges.
... life, (b) the intermarriage of the Jews with the ... 4) The Elamites also became a people
of considerable ... Phoenicia was a country of great commercial progress with ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter ix the judges.htm