Deuteronomy 23:1-7

1 “If a man’s testicles are crushed or his penis is cut off, he may not be admitted to the assembly of the LORD .
2 “If a person is illegitimate by birth, neither he nor his descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the LORD .
3 “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the LORD .
4 These nations did not welcome you with food and water when you came out of Egypt. Instead, they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in distant Aram-naharaim to curse you.
5 But the LORD your God refused to listen to Balaam. He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the LORD your God loves you.
6 As long as you live, you must never promote the welfare and prosperity of the Ammonites or Moabites.
7 “Do not detest the Edomites or the Egyptians, because the Edomites are your relatives and you lived as foreigners among the Egyptians.

Deuteronomy 23:1-7 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

  • [a]. Verses 23:1-25 are numbered 23:2-26 in Hebrew text.
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