Deuteronomy 23:1-8

The LORD’s assembly

1 No man whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off can belong to the LORD's assembly.

2 No one born of an illegitimate marriage can belong to the LORD's assembly either. Not even the tenth generation of such children can belong to the LORD's assembly.

3 Ammonites and Moabites can't belong to the LORD's assembly. Not even the tenth generation of such people can belong to the LORD's assembly, as a rule,

4 because they didn't help you with food or water on your journey out of Egypt, and because they hired Balaam, Beor's son, from Pethor of Mesopotamia to curse you.

5 But the LORD your God wasn't interested in listening to Balaam. The LORD your God turned that curse into a blessing because the LORD your God loves you.

6 So don't be concerned with their health and well-being as long as you live.

7 Don't detest Edomites, because they are your relatives. Don't detest Egyptians because you were immigrants in their land.

8 Children born to them are permitted to belong to the LORD's assembly starting with the third generation.

Deuteronomy 23:1-8 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

• [a]. 23:2 in Heb
• [b]. Heb uncertain