¹² Eventually, foreigners served in high positions. Uriah the Hittite, Bath-sheba’s husband, was counted among “the mighty men” of David, as was Zelek the Ammonite. (1 Chronicles 11:26, 39, 41; 2 Samuel 11:3, 4) Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian, served in the palace and had access to the king. (Jeremiah 38:7-9) After Israel returned from exile in Babylon, non-Israelite Nethinim were given increased responsibility in assisting the priests. (Ezra 7:24)

¹⁴ Nevertheless, the position of proselytes in the land was not like that of native-born Israelites. Proselytes did not serve as priests, and their firstborn were not represented in the Levitical priesthood.b And proselytes had no land inheritance in Israel. Still, Israelites were commanded to be considerate of faithful proselytes and to view them as brothers.​—Leviticus 19:33, 34.