Scripture Spot Logo

Verse of the Day

WEB

Author Spotlight

Loading featured author...

Report Issue

See a formatting issue or error?

Let us know →

Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.

Verse Takeaways

1

A Calculated Financial Threat

The accusers made a powerful political argument by listing three specific types of revenue the king would lose. Commentators explain these were the 'tribute' (a general money tax), 'custom' or 'provision' (payments in kind), and 'toll' (fees for using royal roads). John Gill notes this was a 'striking and powerful argument' designed to frame the rebuilding of Jerusalem as a direct financial and rebellious threat to the empire.

See 2 Verse Takeaways

Book Overview

Ezra

Author

Audience

Composition

Teaching Highlights

Outline

+ 5 more

See Overview

Commentaries

4

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Ezra 4:13

18th Century

Theologian

Toll, tribute, and custom - Rather, “tribute, provision, and toll” (). The “tribute” is the money-tax imposed on each province, and apportio…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Ezra 4:13

19th Century

Bishop

Toll, tribute, and custom. —Toll for the highways; custom, a provision in kind; tribute, the money tax.

The revenue.…

John Gill

John Gill

On Ezra 4:13

17th Century

Pastor

Be it known now unto the king
And let it be seriously and thoroughly considered by him and his counsellors:

<…

Premium

Go Ad-Free

Go ad-free and create your own bookmark library

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Ezra 4:6–24

17th Century

Minister

It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teache…