Deuteronomy 23:7

7 But don't spurn an Edomite; he's your kin. And don't spurn an Egyptian; you were a foreigner in his land.

Deuteronomy 23:7 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 23:7

Thou shall not abhor an Edomite
Or an Idumean, the descendants of Esau, whose name was Edom, ( Genesis 25:30 ) the Targum of Jonathan adds, "that comes to be made a proselyte"; he was not to be rejected with abhorrence, because of the old grudge between Jacob and Esau, and which was become national in their posterity:

for he is thy brother;
the Israelites and the Edomites were nearest akin to each other of all the nations; for Jacob and Esau were own brothers by father's and mother's side, yea, were twin brothers; the relation was very near:

thou shall not abhor an Egyptian;
that comes to be made a proselyte also, as the same Targum; though the Israelites were so ill used by them, their lives made bitter with hard bondage, and their male infants slain by them, and they for a long time refused their liberty to depart:

because thou wast a stranger in his land:
and at first received many favours and kindnesses from them, being supported and supplied with provisions during a long famine; and had one of the richest and most fruitful parts of the country assigned them to dwell in; and old favours were not to be forgotten, though they had been followed with great unkindness and cruelty.

Deuteronomy 23:7 In-Context

5 God, your God, refused to listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing - how God, your God, loves you!
6 Don't even try to get along with them or do anything for them, ever.
7 But don't spurn an Edomite; he's your kin. And don't spurn an Egyptian; you were a foreigner in his land.
8 Children born to Edomites and Egyptians may enter the congregation of God in the third generation.
9 When you are camped out, at war with your enemies, be careful to keep yourself from anything ritually defiling.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.