XXIII.
The old heading of this chapter, “_Who may or may not enter into the
congregation,”_ supplies a good connection with what goes before.
From the law of marriage in the _Church of Israel_ it is a natural
step to the _Children of Israel,_ the members of this Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
The rule that a eunuch should not enter into the congregation was
doubtless intended to prevent the Israelitish rulers from making
eunuchs of their brethren the children of Israel. As a set off to this
apparent harshness towards the man who had been thus treated, we must
read Isaiah 56:3, in which a... [ Continue Reading ]
A BASTARD SHALL NOT ENTER. — Such a person would not, even now, be
circumcised by the Jews, or permitted to marry an Israelitish woman,
or be buried with his people; therefore he was excluded from the
covenant. It is manifest how efficacious would be the enforcement of
this law also in preserving th... [ Continue Reading ]
AN AMMONITE OR MOABITE SHALL NOT ENTER. According to Rashi, “shall
not marry an Israelitish woman.” It must be remembered that the
children, according to Jewish law, follow the _father,_ not the
mother. The case of Ruth would not, therefore, be touched by this
precept.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THEY MET YOU NOT WITH BREAD AND WITH WATER. — We learn
incidentally from this passage how the Moabites and the Ammonites
requited the forbearance shown them by the Israelites (Deuteronomy
2:9; Deuteronomy 2:19; Deuteronomy 2:29). No one not acquainted with
the details of Israel’s intercourse... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THE LORD THY GOD LOVED THEE. — The contrast between what He
says to Israel in this book and what He said by Balaam is very
striking. (See on Deuteronomy 31:16.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT ABHOR AN EDOMITE... AN EGYPTIAN. — The contrast
between these and the Moabite and Ammonite is drawn rather well by
Rashi in this passace. “Learn here,” he says, “that he who makes
a man to sin, treats him worse than he who kills-him; for he that
kills, kills only in this world, but he... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHILDREN THAT ARE BEGOTTEN OF THEM From this passage it is clear
that it was not only from Egypt that a “mixed multitude” came up
with Israel. It seems to have been impossible to prevent some
inter-marriages between Edom, Moab, and Israel when the Israelites
passed through their land. Such a pre... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 23:9. PURITY OF THE CAMP.
(9) WHEN THE HOST GOETH FORTH AGAINST THINE ENEMIES... KEEP THEE. —
“Because Satan maketh his accusations in the hour of danger”
(Rashi).
(10) UNCLEANNESS THAT CHANCETH HIM BY NIGHT. As in Leviticus 15:16.
(11) WHEN THE SUN IS DOWN. — “No man is clean (after... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 23:15. — REFUGEES.
Thou shalt not deliver... the servant. — Even on Israelitish ground
the escaped slave was free. Rashi adds, “Even a Canaanitish slave
who has escaped from abroad into _the land_ of Israel.”... [ Continue Reading ]
WHORE AND SODOMITE seem both intended to be taken in the sense in
which they belonged to the temples of Baal and Ashtaroth, of persons
dedicated to impurity.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HIRE OF A WHORE. — Even a lamb or a kid might not be sacrificed
for them, if obtained as the wages of sin (Genesis 38:17).
THE PRICE OF A DOG. — The ass might be redeemed with a lamb, and the
lamb could be sacrificed. The dog could not be treated thus. Yet
“the dogs under the table eat of the c... [ Continue Reading ]
USURY. — See Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35. Some recent writers on
this law have thought that it forbids the putting out of money to
interest. But it is noticeable that in both the previous passages
referred to (in Exod. and Lev.) the loan is supposed to be made to a
“poor man” in “real distress.” U... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU SHALT VOW... THOU SHALT NOT BE SLACK... — The three yearly
feasts are mentioned by Rashi and the Rabbis as occasions for the
payment of vows. (See 1 Samuel 1:21.) This precept is cited in
Ecclesiastes 5:4, but with sufficient verbal variation to prevent its
being called a quotation.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU COMEST INTO THY NEIGHBOUR’S VINEYARD. — Rashi tries to
limit both this and the following precept to the labourer engaged in
gathering the vintage or the harvest, when vessels are used and
sickles employed. But the plain meaning will stand, and is accepted by
our Lord in the Gospel. The obj... [ Continue Reading ]