Ezra 4:13

set up again R.V. finished.

then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom R.V. they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll. Cf. Ezra 4:20; Ezra 7:24. The R.V. gives the right order according to the Aramaic. The first word denotes the contribution of provinces, and the imperial taxation levied on districts; the second word probably the duties on merchandise or on the produce of the land for maintenance of provincial rule; the third, tolls levied upon travellers, for maintenance of roads and communication.

andso thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings R.V. and in the end it will endamage the kings. The A.V. is certainly wrong in translating by the second person singular. The verb refers to the city of -Jerusalem", which would become the author of mischief.

The word rendered by the A.V. -the revenue of" and by the R.V. -in the end", has caused much perplexity. Neither 1EEsther 2:18 nor the versions LXX., Vulg. and Syr. have attempted to translate it.

In most Hebrew Bibles it is read -Aphtôm". It has been conjectured to be a word of Persian origin (cf. old Persian -Apatama", -most remote": the Pehlevi -af-dom" = -end"), and to be used here as an adverb -in the end", -eventually".

Some of the best Hebrew texts however now read -Aphtôs" (? = -revenue").

The rendering -revenue was a mere conjecture of the mediæval Hebrew commentators based upon the context, and by some scholars is still preferred.

This expression of loyal interest in the welfare of the king's treasure was a somewhat transparent method of conciliating the royal favour to their side.