Deuteronomy23
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah.
2A bastard shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none of his enter into the assembly of Jehovah.
3An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none belonging to them enter into the assembly of Jehovah for ever:
4because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
5Nevertheless Jehovah thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but Jehovah thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because Jehovah thy God loved thee.
6Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.
7Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a sojourner in his land.
8The children of the third generation that are born unto them shall enter into the assembly of Jehovah.
9When thou goest forth in camp against thine enemies, then thou shalt keep thee from every evil thing.
10If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of that which chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:
11but it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall bathe himself in water; and when the sun is down, he shall come within the camp.
12Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:
13and thou shalt have a paddle among thy weapons; and it shall be, when thou sittest down abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:
14for Jehovah thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he may not see an unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.
15Thou shalt not deliver unto his master a servant that is escaped from his master unto thee:
16he shall dwell with thee, in the midst of thee, in the place which he shall choose within one of thy gates, where it pleaseth him best: thou shalt not oppress him.
17There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel.
18Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.
19Thou shalt not lend upon interest to thy brother; interest of money, interest of victuals, interest of anything that is lent upon interest.
20Unto a foreigner thou mayest lend upon interest; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon interest, that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in all that thou puttest thy hand unto, in the land whither thou goest in to possess it.
21When thou shalt vow a vow unto Jehovah thy God, thou shalt not be slack to pay it: for Jehovah thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
22But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
23That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt observe and do; according as thou hast vowed unto Jehovah thy God, a freewill-offering, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.
24When thou comest into thy neighbor’s vineyard, then thou mayest eat of grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.
25When thou comest into thy neighbor’s standing grain, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thy hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbor’s standing grain.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 23.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Who are shut out from the congregation. (1–8). Cleanliness enjoined. (15–25). Of fugitive servants, Usury, and other precepts. (9–14).
vv1-8
We ought to value the privileges of God's people, both for ourselves and for our children, above all other advantages. No personal blemishes, no crimes of our forefathers, no difference of nation, shuts us out under the Christian dispensation. But an unsound heart will deprive us of blessings; and a bad example, or an unsuitable marriage, may shut our children from them.
vv9-14
The camp of the Lord must have nothing offensive in it. If there must be this care taken to preserve the body clean, much more should we be careful to keep the mind pure.
vv15-25
It is honourable to shelter and protect the weak, provided they are not wicked. Proselytes and converts to the truth, should be treated with particular tenderness, that they may have no temptation to return to the world. We cannot honour God with our substance, unless it be honestly and honourably come by. It must not only be considered what we give, but how we got it. Where the borrower gets, or hopes to get, it is just that the lender should share the gain; but to him that borrows for necessary food, pity must be showed. That which is gone out of thy lips, as a solemn and deliberate vow, must not be recalled, but thou shalt keep and perform it punctually and fully. They were allowed to pluck and eat of the corn or grapes that grew by the road side; only they must not carry any away. This law intimated what great plenty of corn and wine they should have in Canaan. It provided for the support of poor travellers, and teaches us to be kind to such, teaches us to be ready to distribute, and not to think every thing lost that is given away. Yet it forbids us to abuse the kindness of friends, or to take advantage of what is allowed. Faithfulness to their engagements should mark the people of God; and they should never encroach upon others.
Key Words
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שׇׁפְכָה: a pipe (for pouring forth, e.g. wine), i.e. the penis
כָּרַת: to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
קָהָל: assemblage (usually concretely)
מַמְזֵר: a mongrel, i.e. born of aJewish father and aheathen mother
עֲשִׂירִי: tenth; by abbreviation, tenth month or (feminine) part
דּוֹר: properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling
עַמּוֹנִי: an Ammonite or (the adjective) Ammonitish
מוֹאָבִי: a Moabite or Moabitess, i.e. a descendant from Moab
Cross References
Deuteronomy 23Nehemiah reads this law and explicitly separates the mixed multitude (Ammonites and Moabites) from Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Details Balak sending for Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor to curse Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophesies a future day when the eunuch and stranger will not say, 'I am a dry tree.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Defines the ceremonial law and purification ritual for uncleanness that chanceth a man by night.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallels the prohibition against lending to a poor brother upon usury or taking increase.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The foundational law regarding the binding nature of vows made to the Lord.
Supported by JFB
Exhorts: 'When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jesus' disciples pluck ears of corn to eat, exercising the very privilege permitted in this law.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jephthah, born of a harlot, is cast out of his father's house, illustrating the social stigma.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God appeals to Israel to remember Balaam's consultation and how God answered him.
Supported by JFB
Reminds Israel that the Edomites are their brethren, the children of Esau.
Supported by JFB
Paul returns the runaway slave Onesimus to Philemon, showing a contrast under Christian love.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Commandment not to vex or oppress a stranger, reflecting the gentle treatment of escaped servants.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Strictly forbids turning daughters into whores, keeping the land from falling to wickedness.
Supported by Matthew Poole