Nehemiah 11-13

The story told in Nehemiah, chapter 13, demonstrates how easily and quickly people turn away from strict spiritual discipline. On the face of it I don't see the harm in marrying foreigners, provided that one remains faithful to one's God. But for this people the temptation seems too formidable to resist. When one marries a foreigner one soon begins to worship the foreigner's god, so it is better to marry within one's faith family. Since the law prohibits marrying foreigners, not only it is better, but also it is lawful to marry within one's faith family.