Does anyone have any good historical data on the dating/nature of the census that required Joseph to register at the time of Christ's birth? I was reading a (secular) historian recently who claims the census was instituted by Caesar Augustus in 6 AD, but that Judeans were exempt since they weren't required to serve in the military. I have read in the past that there was a similar decree for an empire-wide census in 8 BC, but that it didn't "trickle down" to Judea until 2-4 BC. Anyone have any good resources on this?

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Mason
Member, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA)
New York, NY

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18

Wikipedia has a summary.

Keep in mind it is not a primary source and does not have the reliability of one, but it can be quite helpful in identifying reliable sources of information (footnotes and citations):

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Scott
PCA
North Carolina


"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)"
Hebrews 10:23

The census was for taxation not for military service: Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah | Christian Classics Ethereal Library

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Rich
PCA, Northern VA
Student, New Geneva Theological Seminary

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