Ezra 4:13

13 So let the king know that if this city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, they will refuse to pay tribute, tax or toll; and this will reduce the royal revenue.

Ezra 4:13 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 4:13

Be it known now unto the king
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.

Ezra 4:13 In-Context

11 (This is the text of the letter they sent him.) "To Artach'shashta the king from his servants the people beyond the River:

12 "Let the king know that the Judeans who left you to come to us in Yerushalayim are building this rebellious and wicked city. They have finished the walls and are now digging the foundations.

13 So let the king know that if this city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, they will refuse to pay tribute, tax or toll; and this will reduce the royal revenue.

14 Now, because we eat the king's salt, and it is not right for us to see the king dishonored, we therefore are sending to inform the king,

15 so that a search can be made in the archives of your ancestors; in these archives you will find and ascertain that this city is indeed a rebellious city, the bane of kings and provinces, and that sedition has been fostered there since ancient times - which is why this city was destroyed.