Deuteronomy23
World English Bible · Public Domain
1He who is emasculated by crushing or cutting shall not enter into Yahweh’s assembly.
2A person born of a forbidden union shall not enter into Yahweh’s assembly; even to the tenth generation shall no one of his enter into Yahweh’s assembly.
3An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into Yahweh’s assembly; even to the tenth generation shall no one belonging to them enter into Yahweh’s assembly forever,
4because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way 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 Yahweh your God wouldn’t listen to Balaam, but Yahweh your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because Yahweh your God loved you.
6You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.
7You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land.
8The children of the third generation who are born to them may enter into Yahweh’s assembly.
9When you go out and camp against your enemies, then you shall keep yourselves from every evil thing.
10If there is among you any man who is not clean by reason of that which happens to him by night, then shall he go outside of the camp. He shall not come within the camp;
11but it shall be, when evening comes, he shall bathe himself in water. When the sun is down, he shall come within the camp.
12You shall have a place also outside of the camp where you go relieve yourself.
13You shall have a trowel among your weapons. It shall be, when you relieve yourself, you shall dig with it, and shall turn back and cover your excrement;
14for Yahweh your God walks in the middle of your camp, to deliver you, and to give up your enemies before you. Therefore your camp shall be holy, that he may not see an unclean thing in you, and turn away from you.
15You shall not deliver to his master a servant who has escaped from his master to you.
16He shall dwell with you, among you, in the place which he shall choose within one of your gates, where it pleases him best. You shall not oppress him.
17There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel.
18You shall not bring the hire of a prostitute, or the wages of a male prostitute, into the house of Yahweh your God for any vow; for both of these are an abomination to Yahweh your God.
19You shall not lend on interest to your brother: interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest.
20You may charge a foreigner interest; but you shall not charge your brother interest, that Yahweh your God may bless you in all that you put your hand to, in the land where you go in to possess it.
21When you vow a vow to Yahweh your God, you shall not be slack to pay it, for Yahweh your God will surely require it of you; and it would be sin in you.
22But if you refrain from making a vow, it shall be no sin in you.
23You shall observe and do that which has gone out of your lips. Whatever you have vowed to Yahweh your God as a free will offering, which you have promised with your mouth, you must do.
24When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, then you may eat your fill of grapes at your own pleasure; but you shall not put any in your container.
25When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the ears 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