In Jesus ’ day, Israel was occupied by the Romans, who had adopted a comparable system. In the Oriental provinces, in addition to normal taxes, compulsory work could be demanded from the population on a regular or an exceptional basis. Such duties would be unpopular at best.
पौर्वात्य प्रांतांत नेहमीचे कर सरकारला देण्याव्यतिरिक्‍त, सर्वसाधारण लोकांकडून नियमितपणे किंवा एखाद्या वेळी अचानक सक्‍तीने काम करण्याची मागणी केली जाऊ शकत होती.