SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:13
Ahora, notorio sea al rey, que si aquella ciudad fuere reedificada, y los muros fueren fundados, no darán el tributo, pecho, y rentas, y el catastro de los reyes será menoscabado.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ezra 4:13
Verse 13. Toll, tribute, and custom] The first term is supposed to imply the capitation tax; the second, an excise on commodities and merchandise; the third, a sort of land tax. Others suppose the first means a property tax; the second, a poll tax; and the third, what was paid on imports and exports. In a word, if you permit these people to rebuild and fortify their city, they will soon set you at naught, and pay you no kind of tribute.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. Be it known now unto the king , etc.] And let it be seriously and thoroughly considered by him and his counsellors: that if this city be builded, and its walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom ; being able to defend themselves against the king’s forces, sent to reduce them to their obedience; these three words take in all sorts of taxes and levies on persons, goods, and merchandise: and so thou shall endamage the revenue of the kings ; not only his own, but his successors’; this they thought would be a very striking and powerful argument with him .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-24 - It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for tru godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the consequences. All who love the gospel should avoid all appearance of evil, lest they should encourage the adversaries of the church. The world is ever ready to believe any accusation against the people of God, and refuses to listen to them. The king suffered himself to be imposed upon by these frauds and falsehoods. Princes see and hear with other men's eyes and ears, and judge things as represented to them which are often done falsely. But God's judgment is just; he see things as they are __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
כען 3705 ידיע 3046 להוא 1934 למלכא 4430 די 1768 הן 2006 קריתא 7149 דך 1791 תתבנא 1124 ושׁוריה 7792 ישׁתכללון 3635 מנדה 4061 בלו 1093 והלך 1983 לא 3809 ינתנון 5415 ואפתם 674 מלכים 4430 תהנזק׃ 5142
