The tempter stands by to accuse them, as he stood by to resist Joshua. He points to their filthy garments, their defective characters. He presents their weakness and folly, their sins of ingratitude, their unlikeness to Christ, which has dishonored their Redeemer. He endeavors to affright them with the thought that their case is hopeless, that the stain of their defilement will never be washed away. He hopes so to destroy their faith that they will yield to his temptations, and turn from their allegiance to God.

Fristeren står ved deres side for at anklage dem, ligesom han trådte op imod Josua. Han peger på deres snavsede klæder deres mangelfulde karakter, Han peger på deres svaghed og dårskab, deres utaknemmelighed og deres ukristelige vandel, hvormed de har kastet vanære over deres forløser. Han forsøger at indgyde dem skræk ved at få dem til at tro, at deres sag er tabt, og at deres urenhed aldrig kan fjernes. Han håber at kunne tilintetgøre deres tro, få dem til at give efter for hans fristelser og opgive at tjene Gud.