Ezra 4:13

"Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and have finished the walls and repaired the foundations."

Key Reflection

This passage highlights the opposition faced by the returning exiles as they rebuilt Jerusalem. The accusers portray the rebuilding efforts as a threat to existing political and religious order, framing the Jews' actions as rebellious and disruptive, which serves to justify their obstruction of the project.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Toll, tribute, and custom -Rather, “tribute, provision, and toll” (soEzra 4:20). The “tribute” is the money-tax imposed on each province, and apportioned to the inhabitants by the local authorities; the “provision” is the payment in kind, which was an integral part of the Persian system; the “tolI” is probably a payment required from those who used the Persian highways. The revenue -The word thus translated is not found elsewhere, and can only be conjecturally interpreted.

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