Zebedee

 Hans von Kulmbach is the painter. He lived at the end of the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages was a time when most governance was based in the practice of Christianity of one vernacular or another. It wasn't at all unusual for a King or Queen to justify conquests in the name of God. 

The Royalty of the times were depicted as ornate. Below right is a portrait of King Henry V of England. He died in 1422.  

So, there should be no surprise the paintings of biblical figures were ornate as well. But, according to the Bible Zebedee was a successful fisherman. Fishing and fish are mentioned throughout the New Testament. As a matter of fact the Old Testament names the creatures making it to Noah's arch, but, there were never any mention of fish. Fish in the Bible are considered to be abundant and not in need of godly intervention. Jesus fed the masses with fish, bread and wine. Often that is viewed as a sustenance most of the first Christians understood. 

But, fishermen had means that others necessarily did not. Often the way fishing rights worked was similar to that of sharecroppers in the USA. There was an overlord (a wealthy man) that had purchased the land from a government official of Rome. The Roman governance of this land lie with a family known as Herod. The governor at the time of Jesus it was Herod Archelaus (23 BC - 18AD). I hope this is starting to paint a picture.

Zebedee lived in Bethsaida. That city is visited often by the New Testament. The map to the left is of Bethsaida. It is found in northeast Israel, along the Jordan River where it enters at the north end of the Sea of Galilee. 

Zebedee is an interesting man. He is pictured above with his family. His wife, Salome and his two sons officially known as James the Greater and James the Lesser. The denotation of Greater means older and Lesser means younger. As adults they would later individualize themselves as James and John. 

The name Salome appears in many places in ancient history. No different than the name Herod. It is like a popular female name, but, tends to follow familial blood lines. The Salome referred to Zebedee's wife is not necessarily within the family of Herod, but, I have my suspicions. The apostles were folks closely affiliated with Rome, so whether or not there was a connection is interesting. If there is, that would place Zebedee in a fishing venture provided by his wife's family of Herod. Salome I was the older sister of Herod.

Starting to see the life of Jesus as consolidated to a certain area whereby people of means lived and thrived. In one reading Zebedee is actually stated as having many fishing boats and hiring day laborers. So, the folks Jesus finds as friends are people of means and tied to Rome and the Romans. 

In translation Bethsaida means "House of Fishing."