And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Anyone who refuses to follow God's law and the king's law must be punished quickly, whether by death, being sent away from the land, having their property taken away, or being put in prison.
This verse establishes that both God's laws and the king's laws must be obeyed, with swift punishment for those who refuse to follow them.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Ezra, which recounts the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem around 458 BC, Ezra was a priest and scribe commissioned by King Artaxerxes I of Persia to restore and enforce God's law among the people. This verse is part of the king's official decree, which granted Ezra authority to administer justice for violations of both divine laws and Persian regulations, reflecting the empire's strategy to promote religious order and loyalty in its provinces. It highlights the historical blend of religious and civil authority during a time when the Jewish community was rebuilding under foreign rule.
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