TRIBE i<pv\ri) is used mostly in the special OT sense of an Israelitish tribe, composed of tlie de- scendants of one of the sons of Jacob. The pro- phetess Anna belonged to the tribe of Asher (Lk 2^"). The Messianic claims of Jesus were strength- ened by the fact that He sprang from the royal tribe of Judah (He 7"). Galilee comprised the territories allotted in OT times to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali (Mt 4'=*- "S). The promise to the Twelve Apostles that they should judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Mt IQ^s || Lk 223") may be regarded as an instance of the way in which Jesus sometimes expressed His teaching in the language of popular apocalyptic conceptions of the Kingdom of God (cf. Rev7^"'). Less probable is the explana- tion of Weiss, that ' their judging the twelve tribes is only the reverse side of their being sent to the twelve tribes, which are exposed to judgment just because the offer of salvation Avas made to them through tlie Apostles' (NT Theol., Eng. tr. i. 154). In Mt 243" (quoted from Zee 12^2) ' tribe ' has the wider sense of a branch of the human race.
James Patrick.
TRIBULATION.— The Gr. word dXl^pis (which means literally ' a pressing,' ' a pressing together,' 'pressure') is translated in the AV by the words ' tribulation,' ' affliction,' and ' anguish.' In every instance of its occurrence save one, viz. Jn 1Q^\ where the AV tr. ' anguish ' is retained, the RV uniformly employs the term 'tribulation.' The verb dXl^w occurs twice in the Gospels : in Mk S**, where it describes the action of the crowd in ' thronging ' Jesus ; and Mt 7^^, where it repre- sents ' the way that leadeth unto life ' as being ' straitened ' {reOXiixfjAvy]). In his Study of Words, Trench gives a very interesting account of the history of the Eng. word 'tribulation.' Derived from Lat. tribulum, the threshing instrument or harrow by means of which tlie corn was separated from the husks, trihidatio, the term applied to the process of separation, came to be used for the disciplinary ordeal of distress and adversity. The following grouping of passages indicates the various usages of the word in the Gospels :
1. In the Apocalyptic discourse * tribulation ' is declared to be in store for the Jewish nation (Mt 2429, cf. Mk 1319). The necessity of this
tribulation is emphasized (Mt 24«, Mk 13'', Lk 21'-'), and the circum.stances attending it are described in terrible and pathetic detail.
2. 'Tribulation' is announced bj' Jesus as the outward lot that awaits His disciples, {a) In the confusion and conflict that would sweep the nation on to the final catastrojihe, the disciples were to be involved (Mt 24"). Tliey would draw this relentless hostility on themselves in consequence of their testimony and activity as disciples. It behoved them to endure {vTrofxeweiv, v,^^) and prove themselves ' brethren and partakers in the tribula- tion, and kingdom, and patience (inro/j.ovrj) which are in Jesus ' (Rev P RV, cf. Ro 5^). (b) Similarly, but without reference to any particular ordeal, the disciples are warned about the treatment they must expect to meet with ' in the world ' ( Jn 16^' ^^). On account of their relation to Jesus, they would be subjected to this treatment. But their attitude ought to be one of 'good cheer' (dapa-e'ire). 'The way that leadeth unto life ' was, therefore, in the case of the disciples to prove ' straitened ' (redXifi/jLevr]),
3. 'Tribulation' and persecution (di.uy)x6s) 'be- cause of the word' are mentioned in the parable of the Sower as the conditions which cause those ' to stumble straightway ' that ' hear the word, and straightway with joy receive it, and have no root in themselves' (MtlS^i, Mk 4i'). A mind only emotionally interested in the ' word,' that is to say, as distinct from one intellectually and morally interested (Mt 13^3, Mk 4^"), is incapable of withstanding the emotional shock occasioned by tribulation and i^ersecution. With his feelings sustained and refreshed by no continuous and immediate experience in relation to the 'word,' such a person cannot resist the assault upon them of actual harassing events. See also Sorrow, Suffering.
LiTERATDRE. — Trench, Study of Words; Bushnell, The New Life ; Maclaren, The Unchanging Christ ; W. Archer Butler, Serm. 2nd ser. (1866) 78 ; T. Arnold, Christian Life (1878), 217 ; Moulton-Geden, Gr. Concordance ; Grimm-Thayer, Gr. Lex. s.vv. and Comm. on passages. A. B. MACAULAY.
TRIBUTE is used in the Gospels in two distinct senses. 1. The tribute -money (8i8paxfJ.ov, Mt ll'-*^-) was the Temple-tax levied on all male Israelites of twenty and upwards, to meet the cost of the daily burnt-oftering and the other sacrifices offered in the name of the people, and for other objects of a public character. In the days of Nehemiah the amount was a third of a shekel (Neh lO^^- ^), but in NT times it was half a shekel (Jos. Ant. xvill. xix. 1), which was also the sum fixed in Ex 30""^^ It was collected in the month Adar, and was paid in money of the early Hebrew standard. The ' piece of money ' (crTaTrip) of Mt 17^ was equal to a shekel (about 2s. 9d. ), and so was sufficient to meet the Temple-tax for two persons. 2. The tribute to Ccesar (<p6poi, (pdpoi, Krjvao^) denoted the taxes pay- able by the Jews, as Roman subjects, into the Imperial treasury (fisctis). These included taxes on land and property (tributum soli), and the poll- tax (tributum capitis), from which only children and old men were exempt. The Roman authorities made use of the Jewish courts in collecting their revenue from these sources (Jos. BJ II. xvii. 1), It was the lawfulness of paying such taxes about which Jesus was questioned by His enemies (Mt 22" II Mk 121* II Lk 2022). His reply gave no ground for the charge of forbidding their payment, which was afterwards brought against Him (Lk 23^).