Ezra 7:24 kjv
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.
Ezra 7:24 nkjv
Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God.
Ezra 7:24 niv
You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.
Ezra 7:24 esv
We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
Ezra 7:24 nlt
I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.'
Ezra 7 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 18:21-24 | "Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel... in return for their service... and no portion among the children of Israel." | Divine provision for Levites through tithes. |
| Deut 12:19 | "Be careful never to neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land." | Exhortation to care for Levites' sustenance. |
| Neh 10:32-39 | Details of the covenant made by Nehemiah's generation, including annual payments for temple service and provision for priests and Levites. | Commitment to financial support for temple personnel. |
| Neh 12:44-47 | "Certain men were appointed over the storerooms... to gather... for the priests and Levites. For Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served." | Systematic provision for those serving in the Temple. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house." | Connection between tithes and provisions for God's house/servants. |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | "Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel." | Principle of financial support for religious ministry. |
| Luke 10:7 | "Remain in that house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer is worthy of his wages." | Support for those engaged in sacred work. |
| Matt 17:24-27 | Peter questioned about temple tax; Jesus demonstrates exemption for "sons" but pays to avoid offense. | Jesus, as God's Son, is inherently exempt, highlighting a divine exemption principle. |
| Rom 13:6-7 | "For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due..." | General obligation to pay taxes; Ezra 7:24 is a specific exemption by royal decree. |
| Ezra 6:8-10 | Darius's decree allocating funds from the royal treasury for the sacrifices and expenses of the Temple in Jerusalem. | Earlier Persian support and funding for Temple services. |
| Ezra 7:6 | "This Ezra went up from Babylon... the hand of the LORD his God was upon him." | Divine favor enabling Ezra's mission, including this decree. |
| Ezra 7:13 | Artaxerxes' earlier permission for priests, Levites, and others to return to Jerusalem with Ezra. | King's previous support for the Temple and its personnel. |
| Psa 27:4 | "One thing I ask of the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life..." | Dedication to dwelling and serving in God's house. |
| 1 Chr 9:1-34 | Details of those living in Jerusalem and serving at the Temple, including doorkeepers, Nethinim, and Levites. | Records the different classes of temple servants. |
| Josh 9:27 | "Joshua made them that day woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day." | Origin/role of certain perpetual servants (like Nethinim). |
| Neh 7:46-60 | List of Nethinim and descendants of Solomon’s servants who returned from exile and served the temple. | Identifies and lists the Nethinim, showing their dedicated role. |
| Heb 7:1-10 | Melchizedek, priest-king, receives tithes from Abraham. Discusses a superior priesthood. | A foundational principle of provision for priesthood. |
| Gen 47:26 | Pharaoh made it a statute "that one-fifth should belong to Pharaoh... except for the land of the priests, which did not become Pharaoh’s." | Historical example of priestly exemption from a common burden. |
| Exod 30:13-16 | Command for the half-shekel temple tax for atonement, applied to all able-bodied men. (Note: different type of tax, for temple upkeep, not imperial levy on temple staff). | Specific tax for the temple, not a state tax on its personnel. |
| 1 Tim 5:17-18 | "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,' and 'The laborer is worthy of his wages.'" | Support for those engaged in full-time spiritual work. |
| Isa 60:6 | "...They shall bring gold and frankincense; And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD." | Prophetic vision of tribute brought for divine worship. |
| Zec 14:16-19 | Nations coming to Jerusalem to worship and the consequences for those who do not, implying reverence for sacred institutions. | Future recognition of Jerusalem's religious significance. |
Ezra 7 verses
Ezra 7 24 Meaning
Ezra 7:24 declares a significant decree from King Artaxerxes of Persia, exempting all personnel directly involved in the service of the Second Temple in Jerusalem—including priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim, and other temple servants—from any imperial tax, tribute, or toll. This royal mandate ensured that those dedicated to sacred duties would not be financially burdened by the empire, thus allowing them to perform their essential functions within the house of God without distraction or impediment.
Ezra 7 24 Context
Ezra 7 details the journey of Ezra, a skilled scribe and priest, from Babylon to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes' reign (c. 458 BC). His mission was divinely ordained to restore and enforce the Law of God among the Jewish community in Judah, specifically regarding the Temple's operations and the spiritual life of the people. This verse is part of a remarkably benevolent decree issued by Artaxerxes himself, presented as a letter from the king in Aramaic (Ezra 7:12-26). The broader context is the post-exilic period, during which the Temple in Jerusalem had been rebuilt (under Zerubbabel and Joshua, completed by 516 BC), but the religious and social structures of the community needed firm establishment. The decree in Ezra 7 provided significant royal authority, financial provisions, and judicial power to Ezra, explicitly including the critical tax exemption for temple personnel. This exemption was crucial to ensure that the vital spiritual and ceremonial functions of the Temple could be maintained without economic hindrance, signifying the king's policy of supporting, or at least not hindering, the religious practices of his subjects, particularly the Jews, for the stability of his empire.
Ezra 7 24 Word analysis
- Also we notify you: This phrase (Aramaic: "וְלָכֶם יְדַעְנָא," welāḵem yeda‘nā’) signifies a formal royal announcement and instruction from King Artaxerxes. It carries the weight of imperial authority and legal mandate, underscoring the king's personal involvement and the seriousness of the directive.
- concerning any of the priests (כָּהֲנַיָּא - kāhanayyā): These were the descendants of Aaron, responsible for officiating all sacred rituals, offerings, and teaching the Law in the Temple. Their spiritual and ceremonial duties were paramount.
- Levites (לֵוָיֵא - lēwāyē’): Descendants of Levi, assisting the priests in various capacities within the Temple complex, including maintenance, administrative duties, and liturgical services.
- singers (מְשָׁרְרַיָּא - mĕshārĕrayyā’): A specific category of Levites designated for musical worship and praise in the Temple. Music was an integral part of the Temple service, elevating the act of worship.
- doorkeepers (תָּרָעַיָּא - tārā‘ayyā’): Also a specific class of Levites responsible for guarding the Temple gates, maintaining order, and controlling access to sacred areas. Their role was critical for the security and sanctity of the Temple.
- Nethinim (נְתוּנַיָּא - nĕthûnayyā’): A group of non-Levitical temple servants, possibly descendants of the Gibeonites (Josh 9:27) or other foreign captives "given" or "dedicated" for service. They performed menial tasks like fetching water, chopping wood, and other manual labor necessary for the Temple's operation. Their inclusion highlights the king's desire for every aspect of Temple function to be supported.
- or temple servants (פַלְחֲנַיָּא - palḥanayyā’): This term could be a general category encompassing various other workers or specific classes of non-Levitical helpers not otherwise specified, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of the exemption for all who directly served the Temple.
- you have no authority to impose: A clear, unequivocal prohibition from the highest authority, preventing any local or imperial officials from levying taxes on these groups. This signifies the royal decree's binding nature and its intent to remove all governmental hindrances.
- tax (מִנְדָּה - mindâh): Generally understood as a fixed direct tax, such as a land tax or capitation (head) tax, often paid in cash or kind.
- tribute (בְּלוֹ - bĕlô): Typically refers to customs duties or internal excise taxes on goods, especially those traded or transported. This implies exemption from commercial levies that might otherwise impact the supplies or activities of the Temple.
- or toll (הֲלָךְ - halâḵ): Usually refers to a road tax or transit duty, collected on goods or individuals moving along trade routes. This would ensure free movement of Temple personnel and supplies without incurring additional costs.
- "Priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim, or temple servants": This comprehensive listing signifies that the king's decree covered every class and rank of individual dedicated to the physical, administrative, and liturgical upkeep of the Temple. This holistic exemption underlines the Persian policy of supporting the cult, recognizing that the function of each group, from the highest priest to the lowest servant, was essential for the Temple's smooth operation. It ensures no one involved in the sacred work would be financially strained.
- "No authority to impose tax, tribute, or toll": The repetition of three distinct forms of taxation ("tax," "tribute," "toll") demonstrates a deliberate and exhaustive effort by the king to cover all possible avenues through which financial burdens might be placed upon the Temple personnel. This meticulous prohibition eliminated any loopholes, guaranteeing complete exemption from all state levies and ensuring that financial concerns would not divert them from their sacred duties. This complete immunity shows significant royal favor, likely influenced by Ezra's compelling petition and divine favor.
Ezra 7 24 Bonus section
The decree in Ezra 7:24 reflects a pragmatic yet divinely influenced aspect of Persian imperial policy towards subject nations: granting autonomy and support to local religious institutions could foster loyalty and stability within the empire. By ensuring the proper functioning of the Jerusalem Temple through financial exemption, Artaxerxes secured the favor of the Jewish God and, by extension, stability in the strategically important province of Judea. This specific favor also positioned the Temple in Jerusalem and its personnel with unique economic protection within the vast Persian empire, a status not typically afforded to general populations. The very existence of the Nethinim, temple servants often of foreign origin, and their inclusion in this exemption further underscores the comprehensive nature of the royal favor towards all who served in the house of God, regardless of their original tribe or status.
Ezra 7 24 Commentary
Ezra 7:24 reveals a pivotal moment of divine providence for the returning Jewish community through the decree of a pagan king, Artaxerxes. By granting universal tax exemption to all who served in the Jerusalem Temple—from priests to the lowest servants—the king effectively removed a major financial obstacle to unhindered worship and spiritual restoration. This wasn't merely a political concession but an acknowledgment of the crucial importance of religious service, even by an external empire. The detailed enumeration of all types of personnel and forms of taxation underscores the thoroughness and binding nature of this royal protection. The underlying principle is that those fully dedicated to the Lord's work, especially in His appointed house of worship, should be freed from undue worldly burdens, enabling their single-minded devotion. It highlights God's sovereignty over earthly rulers, demonstrating how He inclines their hearts to benefit His people and fulfill His purposes for His house and His Law.