Between Text and Artifact: Integrating Archaeology in Biblical Studies Teaching (Archaeology and Biblical Studies)

144 HE1WEENTEXTANDAIlTIFACf

Thetr.ldeconnectionwithregionalvillagesitesevidencedbythepot-

tery distribution in Galilee, along with the hick of Homan military

personnelandrelativelackofwealthintheurbancenters,combinetosug-

gesttheneedforrestraintwhenconsideringtheimpactoftheurbanization

ofGalilee.ThetypicaltheoryoftheimpactoftheancientCityonthesur-

roundingcountrysidethaI \VasstaledbyMoses I.Finley(basedon the

workofMaxWeber),thatthemajorchar<lcteristicofanancientcitywasits

consumerorp~lrasilicnature.hasnotbeenundermined,28butEdwardshas

providedareasonablemodificationinligllloftheGalileanevidence.

JhaveregularlyaskedsrudcmstoreadEdwards'sessaysinconjunction

withseveralselectionsfrom therecent publicationsofRichard Horsley.

Althoughbothscholarsarcinterestedin howarchaeologycan help us

understandtheGalileaneconomyanditsimpactontheearliestChristians

in theregion,theirconclusionsarcdistinct. Forinstance, in contrast 10

Edwards,Horsleyhasstressedtheroleofurbancentersasadministrative

centers\"\lithdosetiestotheeliteadministrativecenterofJenlsalem.Inhis

bookArchaeology,HistmyandSocietyi/1Galilee,hehasarguedthatthe

citiesofSepphorisandTiberiaswereprimarilycentersoftaxationand

remindersofthe powcrofthcJerusalembasedelite ofthe"tributary

political-economic~center,providinglittle(ifany)economicbenefitforthe

n1ral peasantpopulation.^29 Hisargumentisbasedontheconstnlctionof

societyintheGalileethatwnsprimarilyagrarianandagriculturalinnalure.

Inhisview,theriseofthepoliswouldhavehadlitlleimpactontheactual

marketpractices,sincetheagrarianlifestyleisunderstoodasmainlyself-

sufficient,withlillieneedtobuyorsellgoodsinthelargemarketcenters.3D

Thus,thefact thatHerodAntipasbuilta citysuchasSepphoriswasnot

representativeofa majorshiftin the socioeconomicsetting, particularly

withregard 10 themarkets,butisunderstoodtobea centerofelite,urban

lifethaIwouldhavecauseda negativeresponsefromthestableagrarian

residentsofGalilee.Horsleysuggeststhattherewasanactiveopposition

10 thecitybytheVillagers,a theorythatisbasedonhisconlemionthatthe

villagersinGalilee wereprimarilydescendantsofanIsraelite heritage,

2H!\1o-;es1.Finley."TheAncientCity:FromFustddeCoul;ln~es 10 M:lxWeber:md
Beyond;Com/XlmUIl(!Stut!i('SillSocietylIlIt!t-listOlJ't9(1977):305-32.
2')Rkh:lrdHorsley,Archaeology.1h.,lory(j1l{1Socj(:~l'illCalif",e-71)(:SocialConleXIof
j('$/iS{j1l{1toeRabbiS(ValleyForge.1':1.:TrinityPresslrllcrn:ltional.1996).St:eparticularly
Horsley'sckscriptionofG:llile:meconomicsinch.j."Tr.ldeofTribule:ThePoliticalEconomy
ofRormUlG:llik-e'-66-87.
jUllorslcy,ArchrwolOR)'.History(lndSocie~l'/"Gallke,76--85,118-130~:mdseeItidlard
Horsley. "SocialConflict intheSynoplkS:lringsSourceQ."in Omjllaalit!II/wlllioll:
l.iter(//)',Rbetorical.rllldSocilll!it/lt!i('S 011 theSayingsGospelQ(cd.J,S.Kloppcnborg;V:llley
Forge,1';1.:TrinityPrcsslrucrmllional.19')6).37-52.