Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 23

Introduction

Overview

Deuteronomy 23:1, Who may or may not enter into the congregation; Deuteronomy 23:9, Uncleanness is to be avoided in the host; Deuteronomy 23:15, Of the fugitive servant; Deuteronomy 23:17, Of filthiness; Deuteronomy 23:18, Of abominable sacrifices; Deuteronomy 23:19, Of usury; Deuteronomy 23:21, Of vows; Deuteronomy 23:24, Of trespasses.

Verse 1

wounded: Leviticus 21:17-21, Leviticus 22:22-24, Galatians 3:28

shall not enter: It is evident that his law was not meant to exclude such Israelites either from the common benefits of civil society, or any essential religious advantages; but merely to lay them under a disgraceful distinction. This would tend to discourage parents from thus treating their children; a practice which was exceedingly common in those ages and countries. To this they were induced by the custom which prevailed, of employing such in the houses of the great and the courts of princes; so that they often rose to the highest posts of honour and authority. Some expositors therefore consider the phrase, "shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord," as meaning, that they should be incapable of bearing any office in that government which was placed over the people of God, who must thus enter a protest against this custom, and deliver selfish parents from this temptation. Deuteronomy 23:2, Deuteronomy 23:3, Deuteronomy 23:8, Nehemiah 13:1-3, Isaiah 56:3, Isaiah 56:4, Lamentations 1:10

Reciprocal: Leviticus 21:20 - or hath Leviticus 22:24 - broken

Verse 2

Isaiah 57:3, Zechariah 9:6, John 8:41, Hebrews 12:8

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 23:1 - shall not enter Deuteronomy 23:8 - third generation Judges 11:2 - thrust out Micah 2:5 - the congregation

Verse 3

Ammonite: These nations were subjected for their impiety, wickedness, and enmity to Israel - Deuteronomy 23:4, and Deuteronomy 23:5, to peculiar disgrace; and on this account were not permitted to hold any office among the Israelites. This did not, however, disqualify them from becoming proselytes; for Ruth, who was a Moabitess, was married to Boaz, and became one of the progenitors of our Lord. Ruth 4:6, Ruth 4:10-22, Nehemiah 4:3, Nehemiah 4:7, Nehemiah 13:1, Nehemiah 13:2, Nehemiah 13:23, Isaiah 56:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:37 - Moabites Genesis 19:38 - children Deuteronomy 2:29 - As the children Deuteronomy 23:1 - shall not enter Deuteronomy 23:8 - third generation Judges 11:25 - Balak Ruth 1:4 - wives 1 Samuel 11:1 - Make 2 Samuel 10:2 - show kindness 1 Kings 14:21 - Naamah 1 Chronicles 19:2 - the children 2 Chronicles 12:13 - an Ammonitess Ezra 9:1 - Ammonites Jeremiah 49:1 - Ammonites Lamentations 1:10 - whom Amos 1:13 - and for

Verse 4

Because they met: Deuteronomy 2:28, Deuteronomy 2:29, Genesis 14:17, Genesis 14:18, 1 Samuel 25:11, 1 Kings 18:4, Isaiah 63:9, Zechariah 2:8, Matthew 25:40, Acts 9:4

because they hired: Numbers 22:5, Numbers 22:7, Numbers 22:17, Nehemiah 13:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:10 - Mesopotamia Numbers 22:6 - curse me Numbers 22:32 - thy way Numbers 23:7 - Aram Numbers 24:10 - I called Deuteronomy 23:3 - Ammonite Joshua 24:9 - General Judges 8:5 - loaves Judges 11:25 - Balak Proverbs 26:2 - so Amos 1:13 - and for Amos 2:1 - For three Micah 6:5 - Balak Acts 2:9 - Mesopotamia 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love 2 Peter 2:15 - who

Verse 5

Nevertheless: Numbers 22:35, Numbers 23:5-12, Numbers 23:16-26, Numbers 24:9, Micah 6:5, Romans 8:31, 2 Corinthians 4:17

because the: Deuteronomy 7:7, Deuteronomy 7:8, Deuteronomy 33:3, Psalms 73:1, Jeremiah 31:3, Ezekiel 16:8, Malachi 1:2, Romans 9:13, Romans 11:28, Ephesians 2:4, Ephesians 2:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:55 - blessed Numbers 22:12 - for they Numbers 22:13 - for the Lord Numbers 24:10 - I called Deuteronomy 23:3 - Ammonite Joshua 24:9 - General 2 Samuel 16:12 - requite Nehemiah 13:2 - our God Proverbs 26:2 - so Amos 2:1 - For three Mark 15:26 - the superscription 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love 2 Peter 2:15 - who Revelation 1:5 - him

Verse 6

Thou shalt: 2 Samuel 8:2, 2 Samuel 12:31, Ezra 9:12, Nehemiah 13:23-25

prosperity: Heb. good

Reciprocal: Matthew 5:43 - and hate

Verse 7

he is thy: Genesis 25:24-26, Genesis 25:30, Numbers 20:14, Obadiah 1:10-12, Malachi 1:2

because thou: Deuteronomy 10:19, Genesis 45:17, Genesis 45:18, Genesis 46:7, Genesis 47:6, Genesis 47:12, Genesis 47:27, Exodus 22:21, Exodus 23:9, Leviticus 19:34, Psalms 105:23, Acts 7:10-18

Reciprocal: Genesis 36:1 - General Genesis 36:12 - Amalek Numbers 20:21 - wherefore Deuteronomy 2:4 - Ye are to pass 1 Samuel 30:11 - gave him 1 Kings 11:25 - abhorred Jeremiah 49:7 - Edom Amos 1:11 - because

Verse 8

enter into: Deuteronomy 23:1, Romans 3:29, Romans 3:30, Ephesians 2:12, Ephesians 2:13

third generation: Deuteronomy 23:2, Deuteronomy 23:3, Exodus 20:5, Exodus 20:6

Reciprocal: Micah 2:5 - the congregation

Verse 9

Joshua 6:18, Joshua 7:11-13, Judges 20:26, 2 Chronicles 19:4, 2 Chronicles 20:3-13, 2 Chronicles 31:20, 2 Chronicles 31:21, 2 Chronicles 32:1-22, Luke 3:14, Revelation 19:11-14

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 20:8 - fearful Judges 20:21 - destroyed

Verse 10

Leviticus 15:16, Numbers 5:2, Numbers 5:3, 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

Verse 11

when evening: Leviticus 11:25, Leviticus 15:17-23

cometh on: Heb. turneth toward

wash himself: Leviticus 14:9, Leviticus 15:5, Leviticus 15:11, Leviticus 15:13, Leviticus 22:6, Psalms 51:2, Psalms 51:7, Ezekiel 36:25, Matthew 3:11, Luke 11:38, Luke 11:39, Ephesians 5:26, Ephesians 5:27, Hebrews 9:9, Hebrews 9:10, Hebrews 10:22, 1 Peter 3:21, Revelation 1:5

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:4 - wash them Leviticus 15:16 - General

Verse 12

In such a vast camp as that of the Israelites - see Numbers 1:1, and Numbers 2:1, and indeed, as Scheuchzer remarks, in every well regulated camp, cleanliness is considered as indispensably necessary.

Verse 13

wilt ease thyself: Heb. sittest down

cover that: Ezekiel 24:6-8

Verse 14

walketh: Genesis 17:1, Leviticus 26:12, 2 Corinthians 6:16

unclean thing: Heb. nakedness of any thing

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:3 - in the midst Deuteronomy 7:2 - deliver 2 Samuel 7:6 - walked 1 Chronicles 17:6 - walked Psalms 46:5 - God is Psalms 114:2 - General Jeremiah 14:9 - art Joel 2:27 - I am Zephaniah 3:5 - is in

Verse 15

We cannot suppose that this law required the Israelites to entertain slaves who had robbed their masters, or left their service without cause; but such only as were cruelly treated, and fled to them for protection, especially from the neighbouring nations. To such they were commanded to afford shelter, and shew great kindness. 1 Samuel 30:15, Obadiah 1:14, Philemon 1:10-19

Reciprocal: Proverbs 30:10 - Accuse not Isaiah 16:4 - mine

Verse 16

shall dwell: Isaiah 16:3, Isaiah 16:4, Luke 15:15-24, Titus 3:2, Titus 3:3

liketh him best: Heb. is good for him

thou shalt not: Exodus 22:21, Exodus 23:9, Jeremiah 7:6, Zechariah 7:10, Malachi 3:5, James 2:6

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 12:11 - a place 1 Samuel 30:15 - nor deliver

Verse 17

There shall be: etc. The prohibition in the text, like many others, has no direct application to practices that were common among the Israelites at that time; but was intended to guard them against the enormities which were practised among the surrounding nations. Deuteronomy 22:21, Deuteronomy 22:29, Leviticus 19:29, Proverbs 2:16

whore: or, sodomitess, Romans 1:26

sodomite: Genesis 19:4, Genesis 19:5, Judges 19:22, 1 Kings 14:24, 1 Kings 15:12, 1 Kings 22:46, 2 Kings 23:7, Romans 1:27, Romans 1:28, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:7 - General Genesis 34:7 - thing Leviticus 20:13 - General 1 Kings 3:16 - two women Job 36:14 - unclean Ezekiel 16:33 - give Ezekiel 16:50 - and committed Ephesians 5:3 - fornication

Verse 18

hire: Ezekiel 16:33

dog: Psalms 22:16, Proverbs 26:11, Isaiah 56:10, Isaiah 56:11, Matthew 7:6, Philippians 3:2, 2 Peter 2:22, Revelation 22:15

any vow: Deuteronomy 23:21, Deuteronomy 12:6, Leviticus 7:16, Psalms 5:4-6, Isaiah 61:8, Habakkuk 1:13, Malachi 1:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:16 - What wilt Leviticus 18:27 - General Leviticus 27:11 - General Deuteronomy 7:25 - an abomination Deuteronomy 17:1 - for that Judges 11:31 - and I will 2 Samuel 3:8 - Amos I a dog's head Proverbs 6:16 - an Isaiah 23:17 - and she shall Isaiah 66:3 - cut Jonah 2:9 - I will pay Micah 1:7 - for Matthew 27:6 - to put Romans 1:26 - vile Ephesians 5:3 - fornication 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love

Verse 19

Exodus 22:25, Leviticus 25:35-37, Nehemiah 5:1-7, Psalms 15:5, Ezekiel 18:7, Ezekiel 18:8, Ezekiel 18:13, Ezekiel 18:16-18, Ezekiel 22:12, Luke 6:34, Luke 6:35

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:14 - borrow Leviticus 25:36 - usury Nehemiah 5:7 - Ye exact usury Jeremiah 15:10 - I have Matthew 25:27 - with Luke 19:23 - usury

Verse 20

a stranger: Deuteronomy 14:21, Deuteronomy 15:3, Leviticus 19:33, Leviticus 19:34

that the: Deuteronomy 15:10, Proverbs 19:17, Isaiah 1:19, Luke 14:14, 1 Corinthians 15:58

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:14 - borrow Exodus 22:25 - General Leviticus 25:36 - usury Nehemiah 5:7 - Ye exact usury Psalms 15:5 - putteth Jeremiah 15:10 - I have Ezekiel 18:8 - hath not Matthew 25:27 - with Luke 19:23 - usury

Verse 21

Deuteronomy 23:18, Genesis 28:20, Genesis 35:1-3, Leviticus 27:2-34, Numbers 30:2-16, Psalms 56:12, Psalms 66:13, Psalms 66:14, Psalms 76:11, Psalms 116:18, Ecclesiastes 5:4, Ecclesiastes 5:5, Jonah 1:16, Jonah 2:9, Nahum 1:15

Reciprocal: Leviticus 22:21 - to accomplish Psalms 50:14 - pay Matthew 5:34 - Swear Acts 5:3 - to keep

Verse 22

Reciprocal: Numbers 30:2 - vow a vow Ecclesiastes 5:5 - General

Verse 23

That which: Numbers 30:2, Judges 11:30, Judges 11:31, Judges 11:35, 1 Samuel 1:11, Psalms 66:13, Psalms 66:14, Psalms 116:18, Proverbs 20:25, Ecclesiastes 5:4, Ecclesiastes 5:5

hast vowed: 1 Samuel 14:24, Jeremiah 44:25-27, Mark 6:22, Mark 6:23, Acts 23:12, Acts 23:21

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 44:17 - whatsoever Matthew 5:33 - Thou

Verse 24

thou mayest: Romans 12:13, 1 Corinthians 10:26, Hebrews 13:5

Reciprocal: Mark 2:23 - to pluck

Verse 25

then thou mayest: Matthew 12:1, Matthew 12:2, Mark 2:23, Luke 6:1, Luke 6:2