God strictly forbade the intermarrying of His ancient people with other nations. The plea is now offered that this prohibition was made in order to prevent the Hebrews from marrying idolaters and forming connections with heathen families. But the heathen were in a more favorable condition than are the impenitent in this age, who, having the light of truth, yet persistently refuse to accept it. The sinner of today is far more guilty than the heathen, because the light of the gospel shines clearly all around him. He violates conscience and is a deliberate enemy of God. The reason which God assigned for forbidding these marriages was: “For they will turn away thy son from following Me.” Those among ancient Israel who ventured to disregard the prohibition of God did it at the sacrifice of religious principle. Take the case of Solomon for example. His wives turned away his heart from his God. {4T 508.1}

Gud nedlagde fordum strengt forbud imod, at hans folk indgik ægteskabelige forbindelser med andre folkeslag. Man påberåber sig nu, at dette forbud blev givet for at forhindre hebræerne fra at gifte sig med afgudsdyrkere og indgå forbindelse med hedenske familier. Men hedningerne befandt sig i en gunstigere stilling end de ubodfærdige i vor tid, som har sandhedens lys, men hårdnakket afslår at tage imod det. Synderen i dag har langt større skyld end hedningen havde, fordi evangeliets lys skinner klart overalt omkring ham. Han krænker samvittigheden og er en forsætlig Guds fjende. Den grund, Gud gav forbudet mod disse ægteskaber, var: »Thi så vil de få din søn til at falde fra Herren.« De iblandt det gamle Israel, der vovede at sætte sig ud over Guds forbud, gjorde det med opofrelse af religiøse principper. Tag Salomos erfaring som et eksempel. Hans hustruer vendte hans hjerte bort fra Gud. Vejl f menigh bd. 1 side 471-475]