Ezra 4:14

14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king;

Ezra 4:14 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 4:14

Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace
Have posts under the king, to which salaries were annexed, by which they were supported, and which they had from the king's exchequer; or "salt" ^F15, as in the original, some places of honour and trust formerly being paid in salt; hence, as Pliny ^F16 observes, such honours and rewards were called "salaries":

and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour;
to see any thing done injurious to his crown and dignity, to his honour and revenues, when we are supported by him; this would be ungrateful as well as unjust:

therefore have we sent and certified the king;
of the truth of what is before related; and, for the further confirmation of it, refer him to the ancient records of the kingdom, as follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (xlm) "salem vel sale", Montanus, Vatablus, Michaelis.
F16 Nat. Hist. l. 31. c. 7.

Ezra 4:14 In-Context

12 Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you are come to us to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.

13 Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.

14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king;

15 that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so shall you find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste.

16 We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River.