Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 23

Verses 1-25

Deuteronomy 23:5 Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.

Deuteronomy 23:5 Comments - In a similar way, during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah God turned around the evil actions of neighbouring enemies, who plotted against the rebuilding of the Temple, and had King Darius decree a blessing (Ezra 6:11-12).

Ezra 6:11-12, “Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.”

Deuteronomy 23:10 If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:

Deuteronomy 23:10 Comments - Deuteronomy 23:10 refers to the uncleanness caused by a man’s seminal emission that occurs during the night.

Deuteronomy 23:18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 23:18 “the price of a dog” Comments - The phrase “the price of a dog” generally understood to refer to the trade of prostitution by both women and men, which is clearly mentioned in the preceding verse. The word “dog” is used figuratively here, perhaps because of the dirty and unclean behaviour associated with prostitution.

Deuteronomy 23:18 Comments When associating Deuteronomy 23:18 to Matthew 27:6, as many scholars do, the meaning of this verse can be generalized to mean that the Law prohibited offers given from money that was gained by ungodly methods.

Matthew 27:6, “And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.”

Deuteronomy 23:25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.

Deuteronomy 23:25 Comments - Jesus and His disciples plucked grain from the nearby fields on a number of occasions. The fact that He did this on the Sabbath angered the Jewish leaders, who were looking for an occasion to condemn Him.

Matthew 12:1, “At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.” (Also, parallel passages in Mark 2:23 and Luke 6:1)