Deuteronomy 23:1-8

Classes to be refused admission into the religious community.

Deuteronomy 23:1. Here two, but in Leviticus 22:24 two additional methods of making eunuchs are mentioned. Such mutilations were required in Syrian and other religions, and for that reason disqualify for Yahweh's Church; but see Isaiah 56:4 f.

Deuteronomy 23:2. bastard: the offspring of an incestuous union. the assembly of the Lord (Yahweh): P's designation of Israel as a religious community. The expression belongs almost wholly to post-exilic Judaism, whence and for other (unconvincing) reasons Bertholet dates Deuteronomy 23:1 in the time of Nehemiah.

Deuteronomy 23:3 f. The exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites follows from Deuteronomy 23:2 (see Genesis 19:30 f), but the only reason given here is a historical one and the history seems to contradict Deuteronomy 2:29 as regards the Moabites, though Driver denies this.

Deuteronomy 23:4 b. See Numbers 22:5 ff.

Deuteronomy 23:5. See Numbers 11:25; Numbers 24:10.

Deuteronomy 23:6. They are to do them no good, but neither are they commanded to do them harm. This verse is in conflict with the general spirit of D (see Deuteronomy 15:12 *). peace: better, wellbeing. The Heb. means, completeness, cf. health (derived from whole), nothing lacking (see Ezra 9:12; Jeremiah 29:7). Deuteronomy 23:3 f. is cited and the principle taught followed in Nehemiah 13:1 ff. (see notes in Cent.B).

Deuteronomy 23:7. brother: better kinsman (Deuteronomy 2:4 *).

Deuteronomy 23:8. third generation: i.e. of such Edomites and Egyptians as settled in Canaan and embraced Yahwism.