This is an interesting map taken from Steamchip. Normally Tarshish is said to be in Spain, near present day Cadiz, but this offers a possible alternative. Marseilles at this time was indeed a Greek colony. It plays a large role in the Early Church's history, as we'll see later.In the days of Jesus, the Roman Empire's tin industry was largely based in today's Cornwall, SW England. It is said that Joseph had control over the merchant shipping that exported the smelted tin throughout the Mediterranean area. Tin trade between Phonicia (ancient Lebanon-Israel 1200-800 BC) and the eastern Mediterranean is well attested to in many classical sources, including Diodorus Siculus and Julius Caesar.
According to Mark 15.43 Joseph was noble and honourable in rank. The Latin Vulgate translation (done during the time of the Roman Empire itself) calls him 'Decurio' in this verse. This was an official Roman title to designate those in charge of metal mines, according to Jowett (1961:17). Joseph would thus have been extremely rich as a business man. He was also important enough to have a seat granted him in the Sanhedrin (Mk 15.43). He was thus a rather big fish in a rather small Judean pond. As for his name, if Arimathea is indeed a location rather than a title, then it probably refers to the city of Ramalleh on the caravan route between Nazareth and Jerusalem.
According to the Talmud (ref. to be secured), Joseph was the virgin Mary's uncle and thus a great uncle of Jesus. He was married and had at least one son, called Josephes. If, as tradition seems to suggest, Mary's own husband Joseph died young, then lacking other brothers, it would eventually have fallen to Mary's uncle to become the legal guardian of the family. As such, Jesus may have enjoyed certain privileges as he grew up and maybe even travelled as far as Cornwall in his uncle's ships. British Christian folklore hints that he did. Compare the hymn by William Blake called 'Jerusalem' (1804)
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountains green?
And was the Holy Lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land.
If this relationship between Jesus and Joseph is correct, and all evidence points in that direction, then Jesus was probably not poor. It seems rather that he gave up any right to material wealth when he began his ministry. For his part, Joseph stayed totally loyal to his nephew. In death, he took Jesus' body and laid it in his own expensive tomb.
According to Mark 15.43 Joseph was noble and honourable in rank. The Latin Vulgate translation (done during the time of the Roman Empire itself) calls him 'Decurio' in this verse. This was an official Roman title to designate those in charge of metal mines, according to Jowett (1961:17). Joseph would thus have been extremely rich as a business man. He was also important enough to have a seat granted him in the Sanhedrin (Mk 15.43). He was thus a rather big fish in a rather small Judean pond. As for his name, if Arimathea is indeed a location rather than a title, then it probably refers to the city of Ramalleh on the caravan route between Nazareth and Jerusalem.
According to the Talmud (ref. to be secured), Joseph was the virgin Mary's uncle and thus a great uncle of Jesus. He was married and had at least one son, called Josephes. If, as tradition seems to suggest, Mary's own husband Joseph died young, then lacking other brothers, it would eventually have fallen to Mary's uncle to become the legal guardian of the family. As such, Jesus may have enjoyed certain privileges as he grew up and maybe even travelled as far as Cornwall in his uncle's ships. British Christian folklore hints that he did. Compare the hymn by William Blake called 'Jerusalem' (1804)
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountains green?
And was the Holy Lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land.
If this relationship between Jesus and Joseph is correct, and all evidence points in that direction, then Jesus was probably not poor. It seems rather that he gave up any right to material wealth when he began his ministry. For his part, Joseph stayed totally loyal to his nephew. In death, he took Jesus' body and laid it in his own expensive tomb.
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