Deuteronomy 23:7-17

7 But don't spurn an Edomite; he's your kin. And don't spurn an Egyptian; you were a foreigner in his land.

8 Children born to Edomites and Egyptians may enter the congregation of God in the third generation.

9 When you are camped out, at war with your enemies, be careful to keep yourself from anything ritually defiling.

10 If one of your men has become ritually unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he must go outside the camp and stay there

11 until evening when he can wash himself, returning to the camp at sunset.

12 Mark out an area outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourselves.

13 Along with your weapons have a stick with you. After you relieve yourself, dig a hole with the stick and cover your excrement.

14 God, your God, strolls through your camp; he's present to deliver you and give you victory over your enemies. Keep your camp holy; don't permit anything indecent or offensive in God's eyes

15 Don't return a runaway slave to his master; he's come to you for refuge.

16 Let him live wherever he wishes within the protective gates of your city. Don't take advantage of him.

17 No daughter of Israel is to become a sacred prostitute; and no son of Israel is to become a sacred prostitute.

Deuteronomy 23:7-17 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.