Deuteronomy 23:1-6

1. EXCLUSION FROM THE CONGREGATION (Deuteronomy 23:1-14)

(1) PERMANENT EXCLUSION FOR THE SEXUALLY MUTILATED, CHILDREN BORN OF ILLEGITIMATE UNION AND CERTAIN ENEMY PEOPLE (Deuteronomy 23:1-6)

He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah.
2 A bastard shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none of his enter into the assembly of Jehovah.
3 An 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; 4 because 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. 5 Nevertheless 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. 6 Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 23:1-6

387.

Was the exclusion of the sexually mutilated a fair regulation? Discuss.

388.

We can see reason for the exclusion of the bastard, but why the rest of the generations?

389.

Evidently there is a time and circumstance when even God gives up. Is this a fair conclusion about what is said of the Amonite and the Moabite?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 23:1-6

He who is wounded in the testicles, or has been made a eunuch, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.
2 A person begotten out of wedlock shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall his descendants not enter into the congregation of the Lord.
3 An Ammonite or [41]Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation their descendants shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord for ever;

[41] It must be remembered that the children, according to the Jewish law, followed the father, not the mother. [That is, the family of Boaz for example, although his wife Ruth was a Moabitess, was considered Israelite, including his wife.] The case of Ruth would not, therefore, be touched by this precept (Ellicott's Commentary).

4 Because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired Balaam son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, against you to curse you.
5 Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam; but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the Lord your God loved you.
6 You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity all your days for ever.

COMMENT 23:1-6

In all these verses the purity and separateness of God's people is being maintainedand they should be studied with this in mind.

AN AMMONITE OR A MOABITE SHALL NOT ENTER (Deuteronomy 23:3)These two peoples were related to Israel through Lot, Abraham's nephew (Genesis 19:36-38). Two reasons are given here for excluding them from the assembly:

1.

Their lack of hospitality when Israel came out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 23:4).

2.

They hired Balaam to curse Israel (Deuteronomy 23:4). See 2 Peter 2:12-16, Jude 1:11.

Moab's actions toward Israel are recorded in Numbers 22-25. Their influence upon the Hebrews was in every way degrading. Ammon's treatment was apparently similartheir border was strong (Numbers 21:24), Israel was to avoid conflict with them when entering Canaan (Deuteronomy 2:19) and they evidently joined Moab in the hiring of Balaam. Both of these tribes were later thorns in Israel's flesh, Judges 3:12-13; Judges 11:4, etc.