The fact that these men, worshipers of Jehovah, were captives in Babylon, and that the vessels of God's house had been placed in the Temple of the Babylonish gods, was boastfully cited by the victors as evidence that their religion 480 and customs were superior to the religion and customs of the Hebrews. Yet through the very humiliations that Israel's departure from Him had invited, God gave Babylon evidence of His supremacy, of the holiness of His requirements, and of the sure results of obedience. And this testimony He gave, as alone it could be given, through those who were loyal to Him.

Sejrherrerne hævdede, at deres religion og skikke stod over hebræernes religion og skikke for hvorfor var disse mænd, som tjente Herren, ellers blevet fanger i Babylon? Og hvorfor var Guds hus kar ellers blevet anbragt i de babyloniske guders tempel? Men Gud benyttede selve den ydmygelse, som Israel måtte gennemgå på grund af deres frafald, til at vise babylonerne, at han er den højeste, at hans bud er hellige, og at det lønner sig at være lydig. De eneste, der kunne aflægge et sådant vidnesbyrd, var de mænd, der var tro imod ham, og det var dem, han valgte til denne opgave.