Albert Barnes Commentary Deuteronomy 23
Albert Barnes Commentary
Deuteronomy 23
Albert Barnes Commentary
Deuteronomy 23
"He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah." — Deuteronomy 23:1 (ASV)
Compare Leviticus 21:17-24. Such persons, exhibiting a mutilation of that human nature which was made in God’s image, were rejected from the covenant entirely. However, they could be proselytes . The Old Testament itself foretells (Isaiah 56:3–5) the removal of this ban when under the kingdom of Messiah the outward and emblematic perfection and sanctity of Israel should be fulfilled in their inner meaning by the covenanted presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the Church.
"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." — Deuteronomy 23:2 (ASV)
A bastard - Probably, a child born of incest or adultery.
Even to his tenth generation - that is (see the next verse and Nehemiah 13:1), forever. Ten is the number of perfection and completeness.
"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: 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. 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." — Deuteronomy 23:3-5 (ASV)
This law forbids only the naturalization of those against whom it is directed. It does not forbid their dwelling in the land and seems to refer to nations rather than to individuals. It was not understood, in any case, to prohibit marriage with a Moabitess (Ruth 4:13). Ruth and her sister, however, were doubtless proselytes (Deuteronomy 23:4).
Compare this reference: the Moabites and the Ammonites are to be regarded as clans of the same stock rather than as two independent nations, and as acting together (compare 2 Chronicles 20:1).
"Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever." — Deuteronomy 23:6 (ASV)
That is, “you shall not invite them to be on terms of friendship with you (compare Deuteronomy 20:10 and following), nor make their welfare your care”: compare Ezra 9:12. There is no injunction to hatred or retaliation (compare Deuteronomy 2:9, Deuteronomy 2:19); but later history contains frequent record of hostility between Israel and these nations.
"Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian, because thou wast a sojourner in his land. The children of the third generation that are born unto them shall enter into the assembly of Jehovah." — Deuteronomy 23:7-8 (ASV)
The Edomite, as descended from Esau the twin brother of Jacob , and the Egyptian, as from that nation which had for long shown hospitality to Joseph and his brothers, were not to be objects of abhorrence. The oppression of the Egyptians was perhaps regarded as the act of the Pharaohs rather than the will of the people (Exodus 11:2–3); and at any rate was not to cancel the memory of preceding hospitality (Deuteronomy 23:8).
In their third generation – that is, the great-grandchildren of the Edomite or Egyptian alien: compare the similar phrase in Exodus 20:5.
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