Ezra 6:8

The injunction; official support, (a) money for the building.

I make a decree cf. Ezra 6:11; Ezra 4:19; Ezra 7:13.

of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river The king addressing the governor of the whole country W. of the Euphrates refers to that portion of the territorial tribute which the governor would remit to the king's treasury, the greater portion being reserved for his own use and for satrapial administration.

goods So the LXX. -possessions" (ἀπὸ ὑπαρχόντων): Vulgate -treasury" (arcâ). The Aramaic word occurs again in Ezra 7:26.

The royal contribution lays no burden upon the rest of the satrapy. It literally fulfilled the edict of Cyrus: it was -given out of the king's house" (Ezra 6:4) when it was paid out of the royal share in the tribute.

forthwith expences be given R.V. expenses be given with all diligence, -with all diligence" (A.V. -forthwith"), see note on chap. Ezra 5:8. LXX. ἐπιμελῶς.

thatthey be not hindered According to this translation, the words depend upon the previous clause. So also Vulg. -ne impediatur opus". The verb occurs in Ezra 4:21; Ezra 4:23. Here the hindrance apprehended seems rather to be to the execution of the royal command than to the activity of the Jews. It is probable that we should rather render -which is not to be neglected", a short abrupt clause denoting the urgency of the royal rescript, an instance of the idiom found also in Daniel 6:15 -no decree … may be changed" (lit. a decree … not to change). The first part of the injunction relating to the payment will then conclude with a peremptory command for the order to be carried out, just as the second part relating to material for the sacrifices concludes with a demand for unremitting regularity in their supply (Ezra 6:12).