And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether [it be] unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Ver. 26. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God] In the first place, and then the king's law, as it is subordinate and subservient to God's. Obediemus Atridis honesta mandantibus, non aliter, saith he in Euripides (in Iphigenia), If the king command honest things, we will obey him; otherwise not.
Let judgment be executed speedily upon him] Let this be noted against those that hold that magistrates have nothing to do with men in matters of religion. Artaxerxes here interposed, and Ezra blesseth God for it. See Dan 3:29 Deuteronomy 13:6 Romans 13:4 1 Peter 2:13,14 .