We noted in our previous article of this series, "The Traveling Rabbi," that nearly all first-century rabbis practiced a trade. Despite the fact that most rabbis had professions, however, they were not always able to support themselves as they traveled throughout the land.
While traveling, the first-century rabbi could not easily set up a shop due to the shortness of his stay in any given location. Nor would it have been fair when visiting smaller communities to take work away from a local resident in the same profession. Also, work could not readily be found for the large number of disciples who often accompanied a rabbi. Therefore the rabbi and his disciples were necessarily dependent upon the hospitality of the communities they visited.
A rabbi's stay in a community might last from a few days to weeks or months. Although rabbis would not accept payment for teaching Torah, most would accept lodging, and usually food as well, for themselves and their students.
Jesus clearly felt that his disciples should be entirely supported by their hosts when out teaching. In one instance, he sent out disciples commanding them to take nothing with them, neither food nor money. "The laborer," he said, "deserves his wages" (Luke 10:7).
Meeting Places
For the long-term disciple, learning from a rabbi meant considerable traveling. One literally had to follow a rabbi to learn from him. There is a rabbinic saying, which supports this picture of the rabbi in the land of Israel:
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