Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ENROLLMENT

A listing of people — usually by family, lineage, or tribe — who live in a particular area, belong to a particular social group, or practice a particular occupation. Ancient enrollments must be distinguished from modern censuses. A census is a regular collection of demographic data for statistical purposes; enrollments are enumerations undertaken for immediate, practical reasons, including taxation (Exod. 30:11-16), military conscription (Num. 1:1-47; 2 Sam. 24:1-9), deployment of laborers (2 Chr. 2:17-18[MT 16-17]; Neh. 3:1-32), consecration of cultic personnel (Num. 3:14-39; 26:57-62), determination of community status (Ezra 2:1-67), enforcement of legal regulations (Ezra 10:16-44), and distribution of provisions and property (Num. 26:1-51).

Beliefs concerning the potential of enrollments to incur divine wrath (Exod. 30:12; 2 Sam. 24:1, 10-25) may have arisen out of an ancient taboo based on the conviction that enrollments displayed a lack of trust in the deity.

The NT contains two apparent references to a tax enrollment conducted by P. Sulpicius Quirinius in 6 b.c.e., after he had been appointed as the Roman imperial legate to Syria. Luke seems to date Jesus’ birth synchronously with this enrollment (Luke 2:1-5), and Gamaliel recalls that Judas the Galilean led a revolt against Rome in reaction to the enrollment (Acts 5:37). The difficulty of harmonizing these assertions with other ancient statements is considerable.

A few passages refer to divine enrollments of nations and people (Ps. 87:6; Heb. 12:23). Among these should no doubt be included references to the Book of Life (Ps. 69:28[29]; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5).

Frank D. Wulf

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ENROLLMENT

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)