Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.

Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying foreign wives?

Thus cleansed I them from everything foreign, and assigned the duties of the priests and the Levites, each one to his service;