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
During the Persian Empire, after the Jewish people returned from exile in Babylon, they faced strong opposition from neighboring groups who wanted to prevent the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its defenses. In Ezra 4, these opponents wrote accusatory letters to the Persian kings, claiming that the reconstruction would lead to rebellion and a loss of tax revenue for the empire. This verse specifically quotes from a letter to King Artaxerxes, highlighting how economic concerns were used to manipulate royal decisions.
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