Ezra 4:13 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Bible Comments

Toll, tribute, and custom - Rather, “tribute, provision, and toll” (so Ezra 4:20). The “tribute” is the money-tax imposed on each province, and apportioned to the inhabitants by the local authorities; the “provision” is the payment in kind, which was an integral part of the Persian system; the “tolI” is probably a payment required from those who used the Persian highways.

The revenue - The word thus translated is not found elsewhere, and can only be conjecturally interpreted. Modern commentators regard it as an adverb, meaning “at last,” or “in the end,” and translate, “And so at last shall damage be done to the kings.”

Ezra 4:13

13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not payg toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.