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Full-Text Articles in Business

St. Matthew From An Accounting Perspective, Andrew D. Sharp Oct 2000

St. Matthew From An Accounting Perspective, Andrew D. Sharp

Accounting Historians Notebook

St. Matthew is the patron saint of accountants, tax collectors, bankers, customs officers and security guards. He was originally called Levi; however, this follower of Jesus took the name Matthew-the gift of Yahweh-when called to be a disciple. St. Matthew's feast day is celebrated on September 21st.


Biblical Basis Of Forty-Year Goodwill Amortization, Hugo Nurnberg Jan 2000

Biblical Basis Of Forty-Year Goodwill Amortization, Hugo Nurnberg

Accounting Historians Journal

Current U.S. GAAP mandates amortizing goodwill over no more than 40 years. Although many commentators suggest that 40 years is an arbitrary time span, there is a Biblical basis for 40-year amortization. The Bible refers to 40 years as the life of a generation. Since amortizing goodwill over no more than 40 years corresponds to amortizing it over no more than one generation of talented employees or customers, the process is not completely arbitrary.


Lower Of Cost Or Market Principle In The Talmud, Gordon Cohn Oct 1998

Lower Of Cost Or Market Principle In The Talmud, Gordon Cohn

Accounting Historians Notebook

This paper gives a historical perspective on the lower of cost or market (LCM) pricing system. It shows that a similar system is used in Talmudic literature. The Talmud is the compilation of Jewish oral law. It explains the meanings behind the Torah's verses. The Talmud consists of the Mishna and Gemara. The Mishna was compiled and edited approximately 1,800 years ago. The Gemara was written a few hundred years later. It focuses on presenting commentaries on the Mishna.


Accounting And Controls In The Second Temple, Kevin Nathan Mar 1991

Accounting And Controls In The Second Temple, Kevin Nathan

Accounting Historians Notebook

The Second Temple, which stood in Jerusalem from around 520 B.C.E. to 70 C.E., is known to many in its role as a religious institution. The Bible describes, in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, the Jewish sacrificial system and its laws. In Kings it describes the building of the First Temple, and in Ezra and Nehemiah the building of the Second Temple. No primary records have survived concerning the operation of the temple. Therefore, for a detailed description of the Temple's operation and financing it is necessary to examine the Mishnah.


Thus Spake The Rabbis -- The First Income Tax?, Harvey Mann Jan 1984

Thus Spake The Rabbis -- The First Income Tax?, Harvey Mann

Accounting Historians Journal

A passage from the Talmud concerning income tax policy is examined. The attempt is then made to apply the policy to a hypothetical situation and to see whether the policy is relevant to the modern era.


Tithing And Income Measurement, J. Edward Ketz Jan 1984

Tithing And Income Measurement, J. Edward Ketz

Accounting Historians Journal

This article shows that the concept of income measurement goes back at least to Biblical times. The institution of tithing is examined and is seen to imply a concept of income.


Internal Controls In The Talmud: The Jersusalem Temple, Robert Fonfeder, Mark P. Holtzman, Eugene Maccarrone Jan 1984

Internal Controls In The Talmud: The Jersusalem Temple, Robert Fonfeder, Mark P. Holtzman, Eugene Maccarrone

Accounting Historians Journal

We examine the Hebrew Talmud's account of internal controls in the ancient Jerusalem Temple (c.823 B.C.E. to 70 C.E.) This far-reaching enterprise involved an extensive system of sacrificial offerings, management of three annual pilgrimages, a court system and maintenance of a priestly class. We outline the annual process of collecting half-shekel and other donations, withdrawals from the Temple treasury and the sale of libations. The Talmud describes numerous internal controls: donations were segregated according to their specific purposes and donation chests were shaped with small openings to prevent theft. When making withdrawals from the Temple treasury, the priest-treasurer was required …


Note On The First Recorded Audit In The Bible, Harry Zvi Davis Jan 1981

Note On The First Recorded Audit In The Bible, Harry Zvi Davis

Accounting Historians Journal

According to an early commentary on the Bible, Joseph is the first auditor of accounting records in the Bible.