Deuteronomy 23:1-6

1 He who is wounded in the stones, or has his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the assembly of the LORD.

2 A bastard shall not enter into the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth generation shall none of his enter into the assembly of the LORD.

3 An `Ammonite or a Mo'avite shall not enter into the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth generation shall none belonging to them enter into the assembly of the LORD forever:

4 because they didn't meet you with bread and with water in the way, when you came forth out of Mitzrayim, and because they hired against you Bil`am the son of Be'or from Petor of Aram-Naharayim, to curse you

5 Nevertheless the LORD your God wouldn't listen to Bil`am; but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the LORD your God loved you.

6 You shall not seek their shalom nor their prosperity all your days forever.

Deuteronomy 23:1-6 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.