For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.
For there was an order from the king about them and a regular amount for the music-makers, for their needs day by day.
For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.
For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.
It was the king's commandment - By the king some understand David, and others Artaxerxes. It is most probable that it was the latter; who wished that a provision should be made for these, a part of whose office was to offer up prayers also, as well as praises. For we know that Darius made an ample provision for the priests, that they might offer sacrifices of sweet savor unto the God of heaven; and pray for the life of the king and of his sons, Ezra 6:10. Some have thought that they had been Jewish singers employed in the service of the Persian king, to whom he had given a salary, and to whom he wished still to continue the same.
The goodwill of Artaxerxes toward the ministers employed in the temple service, had been previously shown by his exempting them from taxation of every kind Ezra 7:24. Now, it would seem, he had gone further and assigned to the singers an allowance from the royal revenue.