A Den of Thieves?

Jesus's Action in the Temple and the Question of Economic Exploitation

By (author) Tyler Hallstrom

Book cover: A Den of Thieves?

Extent: 272 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Biblical Studies, Religious Studies

Series: Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2.Reihe

Language: English

Paperback (Forthcoming)

(September 2026)

ISBN: 9783161642623

6.1 x 9.13 inches

Price: $135.00

Tyler Hallstrom engages in the debate about the meaning of Jesus’s dramatic disturbance in the Jerusalem Temple. He provides an in-depth study of the relevant biblical texts, historical context, and socio-economic factors and concludes that Jesus’s indignation was indeed directed at economic exploitation in the temple.


English summary: Jesus’s action in the Jerusalem Temple has provoked extensive debate concerning its meaning. In recent years scholars have increasingly disputed the notion that Jesus’s indignation was directed at economic exploitation. Tyler Hallstrom evaluates the economic exploitation thesis by considering the textual, historical, and socio-economic evidence germane to the discussion. He concludes that, although Jesus may have been motivated by multiple purposes, a close examination of the available evidence supports the view that economic exploitation was a central raison d’etre of Jesus’s demonstration. German description: In seinem Beitrag zur Debatte uber die Bedeutung der Tempelaktion Jesu bietet Tyler Hallstrom eine eingehende Untersuchung der relevanten biblischen Texte, des historischen Kontexts und der soziookonomischen Faktoren und kommt zu dem Schluss, dass sich die Emporung Jesu tatsachlich gegen die wirtschaftliche Ausbeutung im Tempel richtete.

1. Introduction 1.1 State of the Problem 1.2 Rationale for the Study 1.3 Procedure of the Study 2. Historicity and History of Interpretation 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Historicity 2.3 History of Interpretation of the Temple Act 3. Economic Exploitation and the Textual Evidence 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Sellers, Buyers, and Animals 3.3 The Moneychangers 3.4 The Vessels 3.5 ""A House of Prayer"" 3.6 ""A Den of Thieves"" 3.7 ""A Place of Business"" 3.8 Conclusion 4. Economic Exploitation and the Historical Evidence 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Context for Exploitation 4.3 Mechanisms of Exploitation 4.4 Conclusion 5. Economic Exploitation and the Socio-Economic Evidence 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Taxation 5.3 Poverty 5.4 Debt 5.5 Tenancy 5.6 Conclusion 6. Conclusion Vorschautext / Werbetext M: Jesus's action in the Jerusalem Temple has provoked extensive debate concerning its meaning. In recent years scholars have increasingly disputed the notion that Jesus's indignation was directed at economic exploitation. Tyler Hallstrom evaluates the economic exploitation thesis by considering the textual, historical, and socio-economic evidence germane to the discussion. He concludes that, although Jesus may have been motivated by multiple purposes, a close examination of the available evidence supports the view that economic exploitation was a central raison d'etre of Jesus's demonstration. ~GER~1. Introduction 1.1 State of the Problem 1.2 Rationale for the Study 1.3 Procedure of the Study 2. Historicity and History of Interpretation 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Historicity 2.3 History of Interpretation of the Temple Act 3. Economic Exploitation and the Textual Evidence 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Sellers, Buyers, and Animals 3.3 The Moneychangers 3.4 The Vessels 3.5 ""A House of Prayer"" 3.6 ""A Den of Thieves"" 3.7 ""A Place of Business"" 3.8 Conclusion 4. Economic Exploitation and the Historical Evidence 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Context for Exploitation 4.3 Mechanisms of Exploitation 4.4 Conclusion 5. Economic Exploitation and the Socio-Economic Evidence 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Taxation 5.3 Poverty 5.4 Debt 5.5 Tenancy 5.6 Conclusion 6. Conclusion,

1. Introduction
1.1 State of the Problem
1.2 Rationale for the Study
1.3 Procedure of the Study
2. Historicity and History of Interpretation
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Historicity
2.3 History of Interpretation of the Temple Act
3. Economic Exploitation and the Textual Evidence
3.1 Introduction
3.2 The Sellers, Buyers, and Animals
3.3 The Moneychangers
3.4 The Vessels
3.5 "A House of Prayer"
3.6 "A Den of Thieves"
3.7 "A Place of Business"
3.8 Conclusion
4. Economic Exploitation and the Historical Evidence
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Context for Exploitation
4.3 Mechanisms of Exploitation
4.4 Conclusion
5. Economic Exploitation and the Socio-Economic Evidence
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Taxation
5.3 Poverty
5.4 Debt
5.5 Tenancy
5.6 Conclusion
6. Conclusion
Vorschautext / Werbetext M:
Jesus's action in the Jerusalem Temple has provoked extensive debate concerning its meaning. In recent years scholars have increasingly disputed the notion that Jesus's indignation was directed at economic exploitation. Tyler Hallstrom evaluates the economic exploitation thesis by considering the textual, historical, and socio-economic evidence germane to the discussion. He concludes that, although Jesus may have been motivated by multiple purposes, a close examination of the available evidence supports the view that economic exploitation was a central raison d'être of Jesus's demonstration.

  • By (author) Tyler Hallstrom