Minimum Wage In The Ancient Near East

Minimum Wage in the Ancient Near East

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Minimum Wage in the Ancient Near East

Ancient Near East was significantly and agricultural economy as described in both the

Old and the New Testament. According to research, farmers had to work extra hours to eke out a

living. However, their efforts were sometimes hindered by drought, infestations of insects, and

invading armies that destroyed their crops. Additionally, it can be deducted that the land was not

fertile as such leading to slim harvests. The latter indicates that it was a mere subsistence

economy coupled with low wages for day laborers that earned to purchase bread for their family

members.

Determining the precise wages in ancient near east is a challenge because terms such as

‘denarius’ and ‘shekel’ were employed in description of weights, which were later replaced by

coinage. Research indicates that the best way to consider income in the Old Testament and New

Testament is through imagining a poor person working for minimum wage and remaining with

no money to spend by the end of the week

. Additionally, the poor could not afford money for

luxury. There is no appropriate way of evaluating the absolute nature of the wealth earned by the

poor during that time.

Research indicates that many people owned farms while others labored on farms. The

farms were owned by families residing in a particular location

. The families tended their farms.

In the instance that the family labor was insufficient, it contributed to the shrinking of the family

farm. However, when a family had productive land, many laborers were hired. In Mathew 20:1-

15, it can be deducted that laborers usually gathered early in the morning in the town square

Rainer Kessler, The Social History of Ancient Israel: An Introduction. New York: Fortress

Press, 2008, 145

Rainer Kessler, The Social History of Ancient Israel: An Introduction. New York: Fortress

Press, 2008, 125

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where farmers hired them from. The law specified the laborers to be paid by the end of each day

so that they could purchase goods on their way home in the evening.

The Old Testament reveals many herding activities. For instance, from Gen 13:5, it can

be established that Amos was a farmer and a herdsman

. However, David was a shepherd. The

herdsmen and shepherds were charged with taking care of their animals. This means that they

had to fight for their animals in case of wild animal attacks or raids. Herdsmen led a nomadic

lifestyle, which meant they could spend a lot of time away from their families. They were almost

at the very bottom on the social scale.

Other occupations necessary for the functioning of the state also abounded in the ancient

near east. Occupations comprised of fields such as skilled laborers, craftsmen, metal-smiths, and

artisans as described in 1 Chronicles 22:15. Some of the jobs performed by the above

professionals included designing of homes, making exquisite clothing, turning hide into writing

materials, and making furniture. The aforementioned workers ranked somewhat higher than

farmers and herdsmen.

Governments existed during the Old and New Testament period. Notably, the

governments had officials and soldiers that facilitated the goals of the same such as record

keeping and the preservation of archival materials

. Besides, the governments had tax collectors.

Tax collectors were usually looked down upon by people stemming from the belief that they

. Philip J. King and Lawrence E. Stager, Life in Biblical Israel. London: Westminster John Knox Press,

2001, 154

Philip J. King and Lawrence E. Stager, Life in Biblical Israel. London: Westminster John Knox Press,

2001, 132

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were agents of an oppressive regime. Tax collectors were rich as they extorted money from

people.

Thus, minimum wage can be considered as living poorly or lacking money for luxury

activities. Notably, as discussed above, people earned minimum wage and could only afford

money for sustenance. The latter is still a common situation in many countries as many people

cannot afford money for luxury. Only a few people are rich and many of these works with the

government.

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Bibliography

Rainer Kessler, The Social History of Ancient Israel: An Introduction. New York: Fortress Press,

2008.

Philip J. King and Lawrence E. Stager, Life in Biblical Israel. London: Westminster John Knox

Press, 2001.

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