1 Esdras 4:8

8 if he orders them to attack, they do; if he orders destruction, they destroy; if he orders them to build, they build;

1 Esdras 4:8 In-Context

6 Farmers do not go out to war, but even they bring to the emperor a part of everything that they harvest, and they compel one another to pay taxes to the emperor.

7 Although the emperor is only one man, if he orders people to kill, they kill; if he orders them to set prisoners free, they do it;

8 if he orders them to attack, they do; if he orders destruction, they destroy; if he orders them to build, they build;

9 if he orders crops to be destroyed or fields to be planted, it is done.

10 Everybody, soldier or civilian, obeys the emperor. And when he sits down to eat or drink and then falls asleep,