The Purpose of Intermarriage

The fear was that if we have this, we're going to have another round of idolatry and the wrath of God will fall on us like it did when we went into the exile. And so in Nehemiah 13, 3, they excluded the mix multitude from Israel. Now obviously, this is to preserve that unique covenant relationship that God had with Israel. That was the purpose of these things. Intermarriage was seen not as an evil within itself, but as something that will bring idolatry. If you marry your daughter to Kaiser Wilhelm, there's a good chance you can stay away from war. At least that's the theory.