Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
24. Nethinims ] R.V. Nethinim, cf. Ezr 2:43.
ministers ] R.V. servants. The word in the original connected with that rendered “service” (Ezr 7:19). The expression “or servants” would cover any other branch (e.g. Solomon’s servants, Ezr 2:55) of attendants on the Temple.
toll, tribute, or custom ] R.V. tribute, custom, or toll. See on Ezr 5:13.
Compare immunity from all taxation described by Josephus as having been granted to the priests and Levites by Antiochus the Great ( Ant. XII. 3. 3), “And let the senate and the priests and the scribes of the Temple and the sacred singers be discharged from all poll-money and he crown tax, and other taxes also.” (Tran. Whiston.)
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The decree of Artaxerxes was more favorable to the Jews than those of all previous Persian monarchs. We hear of a similar exemption of ecclesiastics from tribute, only to a less extent, under the Seleucidae.
Ministers – The rare word here used, which in Daniel has the sense of worshippers, appears to designate in this place the lowest class of persons employed in the service of the temple.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 24. It shall not be lawful to impose toll] As these persons had no private revenues, it would have been unreasonable to have laid them under taxation.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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 Ezr 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 w, and the Druids here in Britain x.
w Diodor. Sicul. l. 1. p. 66. x Caesar. Comment. de Bello Gall. l. 6. c. 13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(24) We certify you.The exemption of so large a number as the entire ministry of the Temple from all kinds of taxation is emphatically introduced.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. Toll, tribute, or custom See note on Ezr 4:13.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ezr 7:24 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.
Ver. 24. And also we certify you, that touching any of the priests ] These he taketh special order for, that they be freed from public payments; and the like care was taken by our ancestors for the ministers of the Church of England, as appeareth by Magna Charta, chpat. 14. Their maintenance is of the law of nature, Gen 47:22 . Jezebel provided for her priests; idolatrous Micah for his Levite; the Papists for their shavelings, granting them many and great immunities, and being so free to them, that there was need of a statute of Mortmain providing that men should give no more to the Church. But tempera mutantur, &c. Seasons be changed.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
GOD Chaldee. ‘elahah = Hebrew Eloah (emph.) See App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
touching any: Ezr 7:7, Ezr 2:36-55
Reciprocal: Gen 47:22 – for the priests 1Sa 17:25 – free in Israel 1Ch 9:33 – the singers 1Ch 15:16 – And David Ezr 4:13 – toll Ezr 8:15 – and found Neh 9:37 – it yieldeth Neh 13:14 – house Mat 22:17 – is
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ezr 7:24. It shall not be lawful to impose tolls, &c. Thus he discharged all the ministers of religion, from the greatest of the priests to the least of the Nethinims, from paying taxes to the government, and made it unlawful for the kings officers to impose any taxes on them. This was putting a great honour upon them, as free denizens of the empire, and would gain them respect as favourites of the crown, at the same time that it gave them liberty to attend on their ministry with freedom and cheerfulness.