Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
Let the king know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are put back up, then the people will not pay taxes, tolls, or customs fees, and this will hurt the king's income.
The enemies of the Jews are warning the Persian king that rebuilding Jerusalem will lead to tax rebellion and lost revenue for the royal treasury.
📚 Historical Context
This was written around 536-458 BC when the Jewish exiles had returned from Babylon and were trying to rebuild Jerusalem under Persian rule. Local enemies who had settled in the land during the exile were opposing the reconstruction project. They wrote this letter to King Artaxerxes of Persia, hoping to stop the rebuilding by appealing to his financial interests and suggesting the Jews would become rebellious.
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