Salt emerged as a valuable commodity across the ancient world. Kings maintained a monopoly on salt and exacted great profits on its sale and distribution. The English word salary is derived from the Latin salarium, the ration of salt given to soldiers as part of their pay. From this practice sprang our modern expression describing a lazy worker as not worth his salt.

King Artaxerxes bestowed a highly valuable gift on Ezra and his band who attempted to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you—up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit.

Salt without limit, along with the other supplies, were to be delivered without delay. Such gifts underscored the serious intention of the king.

The generosity of a pagan king toward the rebuilding of a temple reminds me of the lavish ways the Lord treats us. Artaxerxes possessed vast resources which he shared with Ezra. The Lord possesses far more, and opens his hands with greater magnanimity. I must remember to ask, and to remain ever grateful for the gifts of salt without limit in my life.

Ezra 7 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Faran Raufi