Language:
English
Year of publication:
2019
Titel der Quelle:
Biblica
Angaben zur Quelle:
100,4 (2019) 543-559
Keywords:
New Testament. Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
New Testament. Relation to Zechariah
;
Bible. Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
Jewish high priests
;
Slavery Biblical teaching
Abstract:
Commentators discussing Matt 26,14-16 frequently mention that thirty pieces of silver was the price of an enslaved person. Matthew, however, is the only Evangelist to record that thirty pieces of silver was the amount received by Judas for betraying Jesus. This paper discusses whether this figure is historical and, if not, what Matthew’s possible motive would be for inserting the sum in his account. After an analysis of Hebrew Bible slave prices and first-century slave prices from documentary papyri and literary sources, I conclude that this figure has no connection to slave prices but rather was used by Matthew to allude to Zechariah 11 and to depict the high priests as wicked shepherds and Jesus as the good shepherd.
DOI:
10.2143/BIB.100.4.3287296
URL:
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