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, on them.
touching any
Ezra 7:7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
Ezra 2:36-55 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three…
on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants,
These groups represent the various roles within the temple service. The priests and Levites were responsible for the sacrifices and rituals, maintaining the spiritual life of Israel. The singers played a crucial role in worship, as music was integral to temple ceremonies (1 Chronicles 25:1-7). Doorkeepers ensured the security and order of the temple, while temple servants, or Nethinim, assisted the Levites in their duties. This structure reflects the organized and communal nature of worship in ancient Israel, emphasizing the importance of each role in maintaining the sanctity and function of the temple.
or other servants of this house of God.
The phrase "house of God" refers to the temple in Jerusalem, a central place of worship and a symbol of God's presence among His people. The inclusion of "other servants" indicates a comprehensive exemption for all who contributed to the temple's operation, underscoring the value placed on their work. This provision ensured that the temple could function smoothly and that those serving were not hindered by financial burdens. The temple's significance is further highlighted in the New Testament, where it is seen as a type of Christ, who is the ultimate High Priest and the true temple (John 2:19-21, Hebrews 9:11).
The royal letter pauses here to command undivided attention. Artaxerxes wants every official west of the Euphrates to recognize that what follows carries the full weight of Persian law (cf. Esther 8:8; Daniel 6:8). God’s providence is on display: the king’s words end up preserved in Scripture so that Judah’s exiles know Heaven itself backs their return and worship (Proverbs 21:1).
Artaxerxes deliberately limits his own satraps. In effect he says, “Hands off God’s servants.” While Romans 13:1 reminds us earthly rulers possess genuine authority, this verse shows their power has borders when it comes to God’s work (see Acts 5:29 for the higher authority believers obey).
The three words cover every normal tax category:
• Tribute – a property or land tax (compare 1 Samuel 8:15).
• Duty – customs on goods in transit (Nehemiah 13:16-21 highlights this practice).
• Toll – road or head taxes (Matthew 17:24-27 mentions the temple tax Jesus paid).
By canceling them, the king removes financial burdens that could strangle worship. God had already provided tithes for the Levites (Numbers 18:21); now He moves a pagan monarch to add further protection.
Each ministry group receives explicit exemption:
• Priests offered sacrifices and taught the Law (Leviticus 10:11).
• Levites assisted, carried, and guarded holy things (1 Chronicles 23:24-32).
• Singers led praise (1 Chronicles 25:1-7).
• Doorkeepers (gatekeepers) secured the entrances (1 Chronicles 9:17-27).
• Temple servants (the Nethinim) handled labor-intensive tasks (Ezra 2:43-54).
All were essential to daily worship, so the decree shields every layer of service, echoing God’s own instruction that those who serve the altar should live from the altar (1 Corinthians 9:13).
The phrase catches anyone not already named—woodcutters, water carriers, scribes, craftsmen—completing a legal umbrella over the entire ministry team (compare Joshua 9:27 and 1 Chronicles 9:2). By safeguarding resources and personnel, God ensures uninterrupted sacrifice, teaching, and praise in Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:24 records God moving a pagan emperor to forbid every tax on temple workers, guaranteeing their freedom to focus on worship. The verse demonstrates God’s care for those who serve Him, His power to overrule earthly authorities, and His commitment to see His house flourish without hindrance—then and now.
(24) We certify you.--The exemption of so large a number as the entire ministry of the Temple from all kinds of taxation is emphatically introduced.Verse 24. - We certify you. The use of the plural is curious. Hitherto the king has made every permission and command to rest on his own sole authority (see vers. 12, 13, 21). Now that he reaches the most important point in the whole of his decree - the permanent exemption of a large part of the people from liability to taxation of any kind, his style changes, and he says, "We certify you." Perhaps he speaks in the name of himself and his successors; or possibly he means to say that in this matter he has asked and obtained the assent and consent of his council (compare ver. 28). Or ministers. Rather, "and ministers." It is generally allowed that the word here translated "ministers" is not applied to the Nethinim, but to that still lower grade of attendants in the sanctuary called "Solomon's servants" in Ezra 2:55-58, and Nehemiah 7:57-60. It shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom upon them It may be suspected from this proviso that the Persians exempted from taxation their own (Magian) priests, though of this there is no other evidence. But they would scarcely have placed a foreign priesthood on a higher level of favour than their own.