### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **ʼappᵉthôm**, represented by `{{H674}}`, is a term of Persian origin that means **revenue**. It is an exceedingly rare word in scripture, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse. Its singular use highlights a specific concern related to the financial income of a king.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H674}}` is in [[Ezra 4:13]], within a letter sent to King Artaxerxes to halt the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The authors warn the king that if the city and its walls are completed, the inhabitants will cease their financial obligations, which would ultimately "endamage the **revenue** of the kings." This context frames the term as the total financial intake a ruler receives from subjects, comprising various forms of taxation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of royal revenue is built upon several related Aramaic terms for specific taxes, which are listed alongside `{{H674}}`:
* `{{H4061}}` **middâh** (toll, tribute): This refers to a tribute paid in money. In the warning to the king, it is the first type of payment that the rebuilt city would allegedly refuse to pay [[Ezra 4:13]].
* `{{H1093}}` **bᵉlôw** (tribute): This word denotes an excise tax, particularly on consumable goods. It is listed as another source of income that would be lost to the crown [[Ezra 4:13]].
* `{{H1983}}` **hălâk** (custom): This term implies a toll on goods transported along a road. Together with toll and tribute, it formed a key part of the king's income from the province [[Ezra 4:13]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H674}}` is primarily political and economic, rather than theological. It underscores the practical realities of governance in the ancient world.
* **Foundation of Royal Authority:** The word's context shows that a king's power was directly linked to his **revenue**. The threat of non-payment was a serious accusation, implying rebellion and a direct challenge to the throne's stability [[Ezra 4:13]].
* **Taxation as Allegiance:** The refusal to pay toll, tribute, and custom was presented as a definitive act of sedition. The payment of these taxes was therefore not just a financial transaction but a sign of loyalty and submission to the ruling power.
* **Economic Leverage in Politics:** The opponents of the Jews used the potential loss of **revenue** `{{H674}}` as their main argument to persuade the king to stop the reconstruction of Jerusalem, showing how financial concerns could be leveraged to achieve political goals [[Ezra 4:13]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H674}}` provides a glimpse into the administrative and financial vocabulary of the Persian empire during the time of Ezra. Although it appears only once, **ʼappᵉthôm** is crucial to understanding the political maneuvering that surrounded the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It demonstrates that the restoration of the holy city was not only a matter of religious importance but was also deeply entangled with the economic interests and political control of the reigning king.
TRV