Deuteronomy23
New King James Version
1“He who is emasculated by crushing or mutilation shall not enter the assembly of the Lord.
2“One of illegitimate birth shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord.
3“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever,
4because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
5Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.
6You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.
7“You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.
8The children of the third generation born to them may enter the assembly of the Lord.
9“When the army goes out against your enemies, then keep yourself from every wicked thing.
10If there is any man among you who becomes unclean by some occurrence in the night, then he shall go outside the camp; he shall not come inside the camp.
11But it shall be, when evening comes, that he shall wash with water; and when the sun sets, he may come into the camp.
12“Also you shall have a place outside the camp, where you may go out;
13and you shall have an implement among your equipment, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and turn and cover your refuse.
14For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you.
15“You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you.
16He may dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he chooses within one of your gates, where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him.
17“There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel.
18You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog to the house of the Lord your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God.
19“You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest.
20To a foreigner you may charge interest, but to your brother you shall not charge interest, that the Lord your God may bless you in all to which you set your hand in the land which you are entering to possess.
21“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you.
22But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you.
23That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.
24“When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container.
25When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your 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