Ezra 7:24

24 Also we make known to you of all the priests, and deacons, singers, and porters, and Nethinims, and ministers of the house of this God, that ye have not power to put on them toll, and tribute, and other costs for keeping of the land. (And we also make known to you, that ye have no power, or authority, to put tolls, or tribute, or any other kind of taxes, for the upkeep of the land, on any of the priests, or the Levites, or the singers, or the guards, or the doorkeepers, or the Temple workers, or the ministers in the House of God.)

Ezra 7:24 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 7:24

Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and
Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of
God
The king had a right and perfect knowledge of the distinct offices and services of those persons, see ( Ezra 7:7 ) ,

it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them;
that they might be the less encumbered with the affairs of life, and be more at leisure to attend divine service, and do it the more readily and freely; it was usual with the Heathens to except ecclesiastics from taxes, tributes, and imposts; so the priests in Egypt ^F23, and the Druids here in Britain ^F24.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F23 Diodor. Sicul. l. 1. p. 66.
F24 Caesar. Comment. de Bello Gall. l. 6. c. 13.

Ezra 7:24 In-Context

22 unto an hundred talents of silver, and (un)to an hundred cors of wheat, and unto an hundred baths of wine, and unto an hundred baths of oil, and salt without measure.

23 All thing that pertaineth to the custom, either religion, of (the) God of heaven, be given diligently in the house of (the) God of heaven, lest peradventure he be wroth against the realm of the king, and of his sons. (Yea, let all the things that be demanded by the God of heaven, be diligently given for the House of the God of heaven, lest peradventure he be angry against the kingdom of the king, and of his sons.)

24 Also we make known to you of all the priests, and deacons, singers, and porters, and Nethinims, and ministers of the house of this God, that ye have not power to put on them toll, and tribute, and other costs for keeping of the land. (And we also make known to you, that ye have no power, or authority, to put tolls, or tribute, or any other kind of taxes, for the upkeep of the land, on any of the priests, or the Levites, or the singers, or the guards, or the doorkeepers, or the Temple workers, or the ministers in the House of God.)

25 But thou, Ezra, by the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, ordain judges and governors, that they deem [all] the people, that is beyond the flood, that is, to them that know the law of thy God, and the law of the king; but also teach ye freely unknowing men. (And thou, Ezra, by the wisdom of thy God, which thou hast been given, ordain judges and governors to judge all the people who be in the province west of the Euphrates River, that is, those who know the Law of thy God, and the law of the king; and also freely teach ye unknowing men.)

26 And each man, that doeth not diligently the law of thy God, and the law of the king, this doom shall be of him, either into death, either into exiling, either into losing of his chattel, either certainly into prison. (And any person, who obeyeth not the Law of thy God, and the law of the king, this sentence shall be for him, either death, or exile, or the loss of his chattel, or of his possessions, or imprisonment.)