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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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S8 THE PREPABAHON fob <strong>the</strong> QOePBLL<br />

BOOK to give th^ Jewish daves <strong>the</strong>ir freedom,<br />

ei<strong>the</strong>r at a smaD TaaBOOd, QT I even without it.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se freedmen (Uberti) formed <strong>the</strong> nucleus <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

-—^ Jewish oommamty in Rome, <strong>and</strong> in great<br />

mesBare detenmJi^ its social character. Of course<br />

<strong>the</strong>y were, as always, indnctrious, sobet) pushing.<br />

In course <strong>of</strong> time many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m acquired weiJth.<br />

By-<strong>and</strong>-. by Jewish immigrants <strong>of</strong> greater<br />

distinction swelled th^ number. Still <strong>the</strong>ir social<br />

position was inferior to that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir co-religionists<br />

m o<strong>the</strong>r l<strong>and</strong>s. A Jewish population so large as<br />

40,000 in <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> Augustus, <strong>and</strong> 60,000 in that<br />

<strong>of</strong> Tiberius, would naturally include all ranks—<br />

merchants, bankers, literati, even actors.* In a city<br />

which <strong>of</strong>fered such temptations, <strong>the</strong>y would<br />

number among <strong>the</strong>m those <strong>of</strong> every degree <strong>of</strong><br />

religious pr<strong>of</strong>ession; nay, some who would not<br />

only imitate <strong>the</strong> habits <strong>of</strong> those around, but try to

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