Read Ezra 7.21-28. In verse 22: Up to one hundred talents of silver: Instructions for the imperial treasurers to support Ezra within limits. The quantities for most of the commodities are not unreasonable, but the amount of silver is almost a third of the total annual taxation of the province Beyond the River. In verse 24: It shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll: The exemption of propose tribute, custom, or toll: The exemption of professionals involved in staffing temples from antaxation is attested in other parts of the Persian empire, so it would not be out of character for such an exemption to be extended to the Temple personnel in Jerusalem. In verse 25: Appoint magistrates and judges: Ezra is charged to reform the judiciary. God-given wisdom: Though it is unlikely that a Persian king would have credited Ezra's wisdom to God, this connection appears in several places in the book of Deuteronomy (Deut 4.6; 16.19-20). In verse 26: All who will not obey the law of your God refers not to all peoples of any cultural heritage living in the province, but to those who know the laws of God, that is, other Jews. In verse 27: To glorify the house of the Lord in Jerusalem; Since Ezra's official mission has little to do with the physical Temple, it is likely that the "house of God" is not the Temple as such, but the community's adherence to the distinctive customs of Israel. Comments or Questions..
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment