Also, the Bible teaches that citizenship should not be given away lightly. 'Strangers sojourning in the land' who were from a people who were allies and friends had to wait three generations before being 'numbered among the people'. 'Strangers sojourning in the land' who were from a people who had previously been enemies were 'never to be numbered among the people, not even unto ten generations'.

Also, the Bible teaches that 'strangers sojourning in the land' should 'turn away from the false gods of the land of their fathers'. If they refused to do this, they were stoned to death.