Deuteronomy 23:1-6

1 No man who has had part of his sex organ cut off may come into the meeting to worship the Lord.

2 No one born to parents who were forbidden by law to marry may come into the meeting to worship the Lord. The descendants for ten generations may not come in either.

3 No Ammonite or Moabite may come into the meeting to worship the Lord, and none of their descendants for ten generations may come in.

4 This is because the Ammonites and Moabites did not give you bread and water when you came out of Egypt. And they hired Balaam son of Beor, from Pethor in Northwest Mesopotamia, to put a curse on you

5 But the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam. He turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.

6 Don't wish for their peace or success as long as you live.

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.