Ezra 7:24

And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — King Artaxerxes issues this directive to Ezra, clarifying the financial status of the temple personnel and workers returning to Jerusalem.

The words — מְהוֹדְעִ֗ין (me.hod.'In) = [we are] making known and דִּ֣י (di) = that frame the royal proclamation.

The thread — The listed temple roles match those returning in Ezra 7:7 and Ezra 2:36, while the exemption directly addresses the tax concerns previously raised by Judah’s adversaries in Ezra 4:13.

Why it lands — It establishes that the crown funds sacred service rather than taxing it, requiring readers to recognize the state’s role in protecting religious operations.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּלְכֹ֣םu./le./Khomand/ to/ youמְהוֹדְעִ֗יןme.hod.'In[we are] making known דִּ֣יdithat כָל־khol-all כָּהֲנַיָּ֣אka.ha.nai.Ya/'priests/ the וְ֠לֵוָיֵאVe./le.va.ye/'and/ Levites/ the זַמָּ֨רַיָּ֤אza.Ma.rai.Ya/'singers/ the תָרָֽעַיָּא֙ta.ra.'ai.Ya/'gatekeepers/ the נְתִ֣ינַיָּ֔אne.Ti.nai.Ya/'temple servants/ the וּפָ֣לְחֵ֔יu./Fa.le.Cheiand/ [the] servants of בֵּ֖יתbeit[the] house of אֱלָהָ֣א'e.la.Ha/'<the>/ God דְנָ֑הde.Nahthis מִנְדָּ֤הmin.Dahtribute בְלוֹ֙ve.Lotax וַהֲלָ֔ךְva./ha.Lakhand/ toll לָ֥אla'not שַׁלִּ֖יטsha.Lit[is] authorized לְמִרְמֵ֥אle./mir.Me'to/ throw עֲלֵיהֹֽם׃'a.lei.Ho/mon/ them

King James Version

Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

Cross-references

Ezra 4:13 Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
Ezra 7:7 So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, he went up to Jerusalem with some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants.
Ezra 2:36 The priests: The descendants of Jedaiah (through the house of Jeshua), 973;
Ezra 4:20 And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.