### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **hălâk**, represented by `{{H1983}}`, refers to a **custom** or toll on goods. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses, always in the context of government revenue. The base definition suggests a connection to a journey, implying a toll paid on goods moved along a road.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H1983}}` is found exclusively in the book of Ezra as part of a standardized list of taxes. It appears alongside 'toll' `{{H4061}}` and 'tribute' `{{H1093}}` as revenue that was paid to the mighty kings who ruled over Jerusalem [[Ezra 4:20]]. The potential loss of this **custom** was used as a political argument to warn the king that rebuilding the city would endamage royal revenue [[Ezra 4:13]]. In a contrasting context, a decree specifically makes it unlawful to impose this **custom** upon the priests, Levites, and other ministers of the house of God, granting them a special exemption [[Ezra 7:24]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words clarify the financial and administrative context of `{{H1983}}`:
* `{{H1093}}` **bᵉlôw** (tribute): Defined as an excise tax on consumed articles, this term always appears with `{{H1983}}` to describe a category of royal revenue [[Ezra 4:13]].
* `{{H4061}}` **middâh** (toll): Meaning a tribute in money, this word is the third component in the recurring list of "toll, tribute, and custom" that was collected by kings [[Ezra 4:20]].
* `{{H5415}}` **nᵉthan** (give, pay): This verb is used to describe the action of rendering payment. In [[Ezra 4:13]], the warning is that the people will not **pay** the custom if Jerusalem is rebuilt.
* `{{H7412}}` **rᵉmâh** (impose): This verb, meaning to set or assess, is used in the decree that makes it unlawful to **impose** any custom on the ministers of God's house [[Ezra 7:24]].
### Theological Significance
While primarily an administrative term, the significance of `{{H1983}}` lies in its application within the narrative of post-exilic Israel.
* **Civil Authority:** The collection of **custom** is presented as a legitimate function of ruling kings, representing their control over the territories beyond the river [[Ezra 4:20]].
* **Political Obstruction:** The threat of withholding this tax is used as a political tool by enemies of the Jews to halt the rebuilding of Jerusalem, framing the project as a future rebellion that would harm the king's revenue [[Ezra 4:13]].
* **Sacred Exemption:** The decree in [[Ezra 7:24]] establishes a clear distinction between secular obligations and sacred service. By making it unlawful to impose **custom** on temple personnel, the Persian king acknowledges a protected status for those dedicated to the house of God.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1983}}` is a specific financial term for a **custom** or toll. Its use in scripture is confined to the book of Ezra, where it consistently appears as part of a list of revenues owed to the ruling power. The word illustrates the intersection of civil governance and sacred work, functioning both as a tool for political opposition and as a means by which a foreign king could grant special status and protection to God's ministers.
TRV