taxes
 稅捐
 tax
      n : charge against a citizen's person or property or activity
          for the support of government [syn: taxation, revenue
          enhancement]
      v 1: levy a tax on; "The State taxes alcohol heavily"; "Clothing
           is not taxed in our state"
      2: set or determine the amount of (a payment such as a fine)
         [syn: assess]
      3: use to the limit; "you are taxing my patience" [syn: task]
      4: make a charge against or accuse; "They taxed him failure to
         appear in court"
      [also: taxes (pl)]
 taxes
      See tax
 Taxes
    first mentioned in the command (Ex. 30:11-16) that every Jew
    from twenty years and upward should pay an annual tax of "half a
    shekel for an offering to the Lord." This enactment was
    faithfully observed for many generations (2 Chr. 24:6; Matt.
    17:24).
      Afterwards, when the people had kings to reign over them, they
    began, as Samuel had warned them (1 Sam. 8:10-18), to pay taxes
    for civil purposes (1 Kings 4:7; 9:15; 12:4). Such taxes, in
    increased amount, were afterwards paid to the foreign princes
    that ruled over them.
      In the New Testament the payment of taxes, imposed by lawful
    rulers, is enjoined as a duty (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13, 14).
    Mention is made of the tax (telos) on merchandise and travellers
    (Matt. 17:25); the annual tax (phoros) on property (Luke 20:22;
    23:2); the poll-tax (kensos, "tribute," Matt. 17:25; 22:17; Mark
    12:14); and the temple-tax ("tribute money" = two drachmas =
    half shekel, Matt. 17:24-27; comp. Ex. 30:13). (See TRIBUTE.)