Z
zerinus
Guest
I am afraid you have completely misunderstood that verse in the Bible. First of all, paying tribute is not, and was not then regarded as an act of worship. Whenever a powerful nation conquered another nation, they would often bring it into tribute, meaning that they were obliged to pay money in the form of gold and silver, or real goods such as food or cloth etc, to their masters at a given rate year by year. It was a form of “conquerors tax”. During the reign of David and Solomon, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah became very powerful, in fact the most powerful in the region, and they succeed in bringing many of the surrounding nations in subjection to themselves, and thus bring them under tribute. Here is a typical example reference from the OT:
2 Samuel 8:
2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.
1 Chronicles 18:
2 And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought gifts. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.
“Brought gifts” means that they became tributaries to King David. Thus paying tribute was not regarded as an act of worship. It was something that a conquered nation was obliged to pay to its conqueror. In fact, this is something that God had commanded the Israelites to do:
Deuteronomy 20:
10 When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.
11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.
12 And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:
Secondly, the “gold” that is mentioned in 1 Kings 10:14 did not just come from Hiram. They came from many sources, including many nations that were tributary to Israel, as well as those who voluntarily bought gifs, such as the Queen of Sheba did, and also including Solomon’s own trade. In fact, Solomon became very prosperous, and his kingdom became extremely rich:
2 Chronicles 9:
13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;
14 Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
20 And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
21 For the king’s [Solomon’s merchant] ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.
24 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
26 And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
27 And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.
zerinus
Continued . . . /
But Jesus reminded people to “pay taxes” to God as well. (in quotes for a reason, don’t misinterpret it!)