Deuteronomy 23:7

7 "You shall not detest an Edomite, for ¹he is your brother; you shall not detest an Egyptian, ²because you were an alien 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 "Nevertheless, the LORD your God was not willing to listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the LORD your God loves you.

6 "You shall never seek their peace or their prosperity all your days.

7 "You shall not detest an Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not detest an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.

8 "The sons of the third generation who are born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD .

9 "When you go out as an army against your enemies, you shall keep yourself from every evil thing.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 25:24-26; Obad 10, 12
• 2. Exodus 22:21; Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:34; Deuteronomy 10:19