Zerubbabel and his associates were familiar with these and many like scriptures; and in the recent captivity they had evidence after evidence of their fulfillment. And now, having repented of the evils that had brought upon them and their fathers the judgments foretold so plainly through Moses; having turned with all the heart to God, and renewed their covenant relationship with Him, they had been 570 permitted to return to Judea, that they might restore that which had been destroyed. Should they, at the very beginning of their undertaking, enter into a covenant with idolaters?

Zerubbabel og Hans medarbejdere var bekendt med disse og mange lignende udtalelser fra skrifterne, og i det nyligt afsluttede fangenskab havde de set adskillige beviser på disse ords opfyldelse. Nu havde de netop angret de synder, der havde forårsaget de straffe, som Moses havde forudsagt ville ramme dem og deres fædre; de havde omvendt sig til Gud af hele deres hjerte; de havde fornyet deres pagt med ham og havde fået lov at vende tilbage til Judæa for at genopbygge det, som var blevet ødelagt. Skulle de så slutte pagt med afgudsdyrkere, netop som de skulle påbegynde deres arbejde?