In biblical times, the concept of tolls was closely associated with taxation and the collection of fees for the use of roads, bridges, and other public infrastructures. Tolls were a common practice in ancient societies, including those mentioned in the Bible, and they played a significant role in the economic and social life of the people.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, tolls are often mentioned in the context of trade and commerce. The collection of tolls was a means for rulers and governments to generate revenue. For instance, in the time of King Solomon, tolls were likely collected from traders and merchants who passed through the land, as Solomon's kingdom was strategically located along major trade routes (1 Kings 10:15). The wealth generated from such tolls contributed to the prosperity and grandeur of Solomon's reign.

The book of Ezra provides a specific reference to tolls in the context of the Persian Empire. Ezra 4:13 states, "Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal revenue will suffer." This passage highlights the importance of tolls as a source of income for the ruling authorities and the potential impact on royal finances if such revenues were lost.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, tolls are most notably associated with tax collectors, who were often despised by the Jewish people for their role in collecting taxes and tolls on behalf of the Roman authorities. Tax collectors, or publicans, were seen as collaborators with the occupying Roman forces and were often accused of extortion and corruption.

One of the most well-known tax collectors in the New Testament is Matthew, also known as Levi, who became one of Jesus' disciples. In Matthew 9:9 , it is written, "As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. 'Follow Me,' He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him." This passage illustrates Jesus' willingness to reach out to those marginalized by society, including tax collectors, and His call for them to follow Him.

Another significant encounter involving a tax collector is the account of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus as He passed by. Jesus called Zacchaeus down and went to his house, leading to Zacchaeus' repentance and restitution for his wrongdoings. This account demonstrates the transformative power of Jesus' ministry and His message of redemption.

Cultural and Religious Implications

The collection of tolls and taxes in biblical times was not merely an economic activity but also had cultural and religious implications. The resentment towards tax collectors was partly due to their association with Gentile rulers and the perception that they were unclean or sinful. This cultural backdrop provides a deeper understanding of the radical nature of Jesus' interactions with tax collectors and His message of grace and forgiveness.

In summary, tolls in the Bible are emblematic of the broader themes of justice, economic responsibility, and the transformative power of Jesus' ministry. They serve as a reminder of the complex interplay between economic systems and spiritual values in the biblical narrative.One of the branches of the king of Persia's revenues (Ezra 4:13; 7:24), probably a tax levied from those who used the bridges and fords and highways. 1. (v. t.) To take away; to vacate; to annul.

2. (v. t.) To draw; to entice; to allure. See Tole.

3. (v. t.) To cause to sound, as a bell, with strokes slowly and uniformly repeated; as, to toll the funeral bell.

4. (v. t.) To strike, or to indicate by striking, as the hour; to ring a toll for; as, to toll a departed friend.

5. (v. t.) To call, summon, or notify, by tolling or ringing.

6. (v. i.) To sound or ring, as a bell, with strokes uniformly repeated at intervals, as at funerals, or in calling assemblies, or to announce the death of a person.

7. (n.) The sound of a bell produced by strokes slowly and uniformly repeated.

8. (n.) A tax paid for some liberty or privilege, particularly for the privilege of passing over a bridge or on a highway, or for that of vending goods in a fair, market, or the like.

9. (n.) A liberty to buy and sell within the bounds of a manor.

10. (n.) A portion of grain taken by a miller as a compensation for grinding.

11. (v. i.) To pay toll or tallage.

12. (v. i.) To take toll; to raise a tax.

13. (v. t.) To collect, as a toll.

TOLL

tol: (1) Aramaic middah, "toll" or "tribute" paid by a vassal nation to its conqueror (Ezra 4:20; Ezra 6:8 Nehemiah 5:4); written also mindah (Ezra 4:13; Ezra 7:24). More accurately for halakh, "toll," or "way tax" (Ezra 4:13, 10; Ezra 7:24). In New Testament times the Romans had placed throughout Palestine many toll stations (telonion). Levi the publican was stationed at such a tax office (Matthew 9:9 Mark 2:14 Luke 5:27); compare telones, a "tax collector" or "publican." The tax which the Jews paid toward the support of the temple, a didrachma, is called telos, "toll" (Matthew 17:25), the same as the word rendered "tribute" (Romans 13:7).

Edward Bagby Pollard

5056. telos -- an end, a toll
... an end, a toll. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: telos Phonetic Spelling:
(tel'-os) Short Definition: an end, purpose, tax Definition: (a) an end ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5056.htm - 7k

5058. telonion -- tax office
... Neuter Transliteration: telonion Phonetic Spelling: (tel-o'-nee-on) Short Definition:
a tax-collector's office Definition: a tax-collector's office, toll-house ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5058.htm - 6k

5411. phoros -- tribute
... phero; a load (as borne), ie (figuratively) a tax (properly, an individual assessment
on persons or property; whereas telos is usually a general toll on goods ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5411.htm - 6k

1983. halak -- a toll
... a toll. Transliteration: halak Phonetic Spelling: (hal-awk') Short Definition: toll.
Word Origin (Aramaic) from halak Definition a toll NASB Word Usage toll (3) ...
/hebrew/1983.htm - 6k

4061. middah -- tribute
... toll, tribute. (Aramaic) or mindah (Aramaic) {min-daw'}; corresponding to middah;
tribute in money -- toll, tribute. see HEBREW middah. 4060b, 4061. ...
/hebrew/4061.htm - 6k

Combination Illustrated.
... 9 And as Jesus passed by from thence, he saw a man, called Matthew, sitting
at the place of toll: and he saith unto him, Follow me. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/combination illustrated.htm

Call to China and Voyage Hence
... On the ridge swung the toll-gate, and a little beyond might be heard the hum
and rattle of the grist-mill. His father kept the toll-gate. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/fagg/forty years in south china/ii call to china and.htm

Concerning those who Demanded the Half-Shekel.
... to Capernaum, they that received the half-shekel came to Peter." [5904] There are
certain kings of the earth, and the sons of these do not pay toll or tribute ...
/.../10 concerning those who demanded.htm

Articuli Sive Conclusiones Lxvii. H. Zwinglii.
... X. Wie der Mensch taub [toll] ist, wenn die Glieder etwas ohne das Haupt wirken,
sich selbst rei??en, verwunden, besch??digen, also, wenn die Glieder Christi ...
/.../articuli sive conclusiones lxvii h.htm

Letter Lvii to the Duke and Duchess of Lorraine
... it. You freely remitted to them when travelling their toll, [88] the dues
on their purchases, and any other legal due of yours. ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter lvii to the duke.htm

The Call and Feast of Levi
... And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the place of toll,
and He saith unto him, Follow Me. And he arose and followed Him. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 2 13-17 the call and.htm

The Tolling Bell
... The tolling bell. Oft as the bell, with solemn toll,. Speaks the departure of a
soul; ... Nor would the thought distressing be,. Perhaps it next may toll for me. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 74 the tolling bell.htm

Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House ...
... Toll was apparently levied in the time of Ezra (Ezra 4:13, 20); but the clergy
were exempt from this as from all other taxation (7:24). ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 4 travelling in palestineroads.htm

The Sinner's Natural Power and Moral Weakness.
... lost soul. Then the mighty, angel begins to toll, TOLL, TOLL! the great
bell of eternity: one more soul going to its eternal doom! ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/xi the sinners natural power.htm

Traders for the Master
... Once more, like the slow toll of a funeral bell, we hear the dread sentence of ejection
to the 'mirk midnight' without, where are tears undried and passion ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/traders for the master.htm

Toll (8 Occurrences)
... See Tole. 3. (vt) To cause to sound, as a bell, with strokes slowly and uniformly
repeated; as, to toll the funeral bell. ... 11. (vi) To pay toll or tallage. 12. ...
/t/toll.htm - 11k

Custom (51 Occurrences)
... 7. (vi) To have a custom. 8. (n.) The customary toll, tax, or tribute. 9. (n.) Duties
or tolls imposed by law on commodities, imported or exported. 10. ...
/c/custom.htm - 28k

Impose (12 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To lay as a charge, burden, tax, duty, obligation, command, penalty, etc.;
to enjoin; to levy; to inflict; as, to impose a toll or tribute. ...
/i/impose.htm - 10k

Impost (2 Occurrences)
... Ezra 4:13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the
walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it ...
/i/impost.htm - 7k

Promptly (4 Occurrences)
... Romans 13:7 Pay promptly to all men what is due to them: taxes to those to whom
taxes are due, toll to those to whom toll is due, respect to those to whom ...
/p/promptly.htm - 7k

Tribute (67 Occurrences)
... From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their
children, or from strangers?" (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV). ...
/t/tribute.htm - 32k

Duty (90 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) Tax, toll, impost, or customs; excise; any sum of money required by government
to be paid on the importation, exportation, or consumption of goods. ...
/d/duty.htm - 37k

Nethinim (16 Occurrences)
... privileges and immunities as the other religious orders, being included by Artaxerxes'
letter to Ezra among those who should be exempt from toll, custom and ...
/n/nethinim.htm - 18k

Pay (212 Occurrences)
... Romans 13:7 Pay promptly to all men what is due to them: taxes to those to whom
taxes are due, toll to those to whom toll is due, respect to those to whom ...
/p/pay.htm - 37k

Paid (86 Occurrences)
... Ezra 4:13 Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the walls
finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be ...
/p/paid.htm - 30k

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