Ezra 4:13 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The letter warns that a rebuilt Jerusalem will withhold taxes and so reduce the royal revenue.
What Does Ezra 4:13 Mean?
The accusers turn to the argument most likely to move a king: money. They warn that if Jerusalem and its walls are rebuilt, the Jews will refuse toll, tribute, and custom, the three streams of imperial taxation, and the royal revenue will suffer. Having painted the city as rebellious, they now translate that charge into a threat against the king's treasury.
The appeal to the purse is an ancient and effective temptation. The enemies know that self-interest can persuade where truth cannot. It is a shrewd reading of fallen hearts to assume a ruler will act against the good if convinced it costs him. Yet the kingdom of God is not finally subject to any treasury. The work the builders served had a wealth no tax could touch, and the Lord who owns the cattle on a thousand hills was never poorer for an empire's accounting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 4:13
What does Ezra 4:13 mean?
The letter warns that a rebuilt Jerusalem will withhold taxes and so reduce the royal revenue.