Deuteronomy 23:7-17

7 Do not despise an Edomite, because he is your brother. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you were a foreign resident in his land.
8 The children born to them in the third generation may enter the Lord's assembly.

Cleanliness of the Camp

9 "When you are encamped against your enemies, be careful to avoid anything offensive.
10 If there is a man among you who is unclean because of a bodily emission during the night, he must go outside the camp; he may not come anywhere inside the camp.
11 When evening approaches, he must wash with water, and when the sun sets he may come inside the camp.[a]
12 You must have a place outside the camp and go there [to relieve yourself].
13 You must have a digging tool in your equipment; when you relieve yourself, dig a hole with it and cover up your excrement.
14 For the Lord your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you; so your encampments must be holy. He must not see anything improper among you or He will turn away from you.

Fugitive Slaves

15 "Do not return a slave to his master when he has escaped from his master to you.
16 Let him live among you wherever he wants within your gates. Do not mistreat him.

Cult Prostitution Forbidden

17 "No Israelite woman is to be a cult prostitute, and no Israelite man is to be a cult prostitute.

Deuteronomy 23:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 23

Orders are here given to restrain certain persons from entering into the congregation of the Lord, De 23:1-8, and to take care that there be no unclean person in the camp, or any indecent thing done in it, De 23:9-14, to protect fugitive servants, and not deliver them up to their masters, De 23:15,16 not to suffer a filthy person to be among them, or any filthy thing to be brought into the house of God for a vow, De 23:17,18, then follow some laws against usury, and for the payment of vows, De 23:19-23, and the chapter is concluded with some directions how to behave in a neighbour's vineyard, or standing corn, De 23:24,25.

Footnotes 1

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