Early Attitudes toward Physical Labor

In the ancient world, physical labor was often viewed as an inferior way to earn a living, especially in comparison to owning land or overseeing the physical labor of others. Notably, ancient authors tended to be among the socioeconomic and intellectual elite. It is against this background that we can best understand the attitudes and ideas expressed by Jewish sources of this era. The book of Ben Sira exemplifies the tension around this topic in Jewish writings. Ben Sira 7:15 affirms that labor has a high moral and theological value, but 38:25 acknowledges the trade-off between physical labor and having the leisure time necessary to pursue the acquisition of wisdom. The rabbis, who prioritize Torah study above all else, take special interest in this topic. Rabbinic texts acknowledge the trade-off between labor and Torah study while also reassuring their audience that physical labor has important practical, moral, and theological value. Indeed, the rabbis often suggest that one ought to engage in both Torah study and physical labor, as in, for example, m. Avot 2:2.