The primary lessons taught are fidelity to obligations and constancy under difficulty.

As the story unfolds the Jewish exiles who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon were thwarted in their efforts to rebuild the Temple by the Samaritans and some other opponents.  Zerubbabel is chosen to lead a party to the court of King Darius, who has, by this time, succeeded Cyrus on the Persian throne.  The candidate represents Kadmiel Ben Zabud, one of the group chose to accompany Zerubbabel.

It provides an overview of some of the ancient philosophic truths which are found in Masonry.  In particular this degree exemplifies some of the doctrines taught by Essenes.

We are taught in this degree, as we learned in our earliest Masonic degree work, the three great lessons of faith, hope and charity.