Ezra 4:13 - 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.
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What does "Ezra 4:13" mean?
This verse, Ezra 4:13, is part of a letter written to King Artaxerxes of Persia by the enemies of the Jews who were trying to rebuild Jerusalem. Let's break down what it means:
"Be it known now to the king...": This is a formal way to introduce a serious warning or piece of information to the king.
"...that if this city is built and the walls finished...": The concern is specifically about the rebuilding of Jerusalem as a fortified city with walls. The enemies of the Jews believed that a rebuilt Jerusalem would pose a threat to the Persian Empire.
"...they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll...": This is the core of their accusation. They're claiming that once Jerusalem is strong again, its inhabitants will rebel and refuse to pay the taxes ("tribute"), duties on goods ("custom"), and road/bridge fees ("toll") that they owe to the Persian king. This is a direct economic threat to the king's revenue.
"...and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.": This is the overall conclusion and the most impactful part of the message. The word "hurtful" suggests more than just a loss of revenue. The enemies of the Jews are hinting that a rebuilt Jerusalem could lead to rebellion, political instability, and potentially even the loss of control over the region for the Persian Empire. It's designed to scare the king into action.
In essence, the verse is a warning to the king that allowing the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem would result in:
1. Economic Loss: The Jews would refuse to pay taxes.
2. Political Instability: The rebuilt city would become a center of rebellion against Persian rule, ultimately harming the king and his empire.
The goal of this letter was to persuade King Artaxerxes to halt the rebuilding project, and it was successful. The king, fearing the potential consequences, ordered the work on Jerusalem to stop (Ezra 4:21-22).
Ezra 4:13 - 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.
What does "Ezra 4:13" mean?
This verse, Ezra 4:13, is part of a letter written to King Artaxerxes of Persia by the enemies of the Jews who were trying to rebuild Jerusalem. Let's break down what it means:
"Be it known now to the king...": This is a formal way to introduce a serious warning or piece of information to the king.
"...that if this city is built and the walls finished...": The concern is specifically about the rebuilding of Jerusalem as a fortified city with walls. The enemies of the Jews believed that a rebuilt Jerusalem would pose a threat to the Persian Empire.
"...they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll...": This is the core of their accusation. They're claiming that once Jerusalem is strong again, its inhabitants will rebel and refuse to pay the taxes ("tribute"), duties on goods ("custom"), and road/bridge fees ("toll") that they owe to the Persian king. This is a direct economic threat to the king's revenue.
"...and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.": This is the overall conclusion and the most impactful part of the message. The word "hurtful" suggests more than just a loss of revenue. The enemies of the Jews are hinting that a rebuilt Jerusalem could lead to rebellion, political instability, and potentially even the loss of control over the region for the Persian Empire. It's designed to scare the king into action.
In essence, the verse is a warning to the king that allowing the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem would result in:
1. Economic Loss: The Jews would refuse to pay taxes.
2. Political Instability: The rebuilt city would become a center of rebellion against Persian rule, ultimately harming the king and his empire.
The goal of this letter was to persuade King Artaxerxes to halt the rebuilding project, and it was successful. The king, fearing the potential consequences, ordered the work on Jerusalem to stop (Ezra 4:21-22).