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.
My Notes
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Gill's Exposition
And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king,.... Either the judge who delays judgment, or does not execute it according to the law of God, and of the king; or the people,…
Barnes' Notes
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…
Adam Clarke
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.
We have here the commission which the Persian emperor granted to Ezra, giving him authority to act for the good of the Jews; and it is very ample and full, and beyond what could have been expected.…
Cambridge Bible
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…