Deuteronomy 23:13. Cover To prevent the annoyance of ourselves or others; to preserve and exercise modesty; and principally that by such outward rites they might be inured to the greater reverence of the Divine Majesty, and the greater caution to avoid all real and moral uncleanness. read more
A holy nation (23:1-25)Various laws prohibited foreigners, eunuchs and people born through immorality from joining fully in Israel’s public worship. This discouraged Israelites from copying heathen practices or marrying heathen people. At the same time it impressed upon them the holiness God required (23:1-8). Holiness also demanded high standards of cleanliness in the camp, particularly in matters concerning discharges from sexual organs and treatment of human excrement (9-14).Other features... read more
paddle = blade. weapon = staff. wilt ease. Hebrew sit down. Beautiful Euphemy ( App-6 ), when dealing with physical uncleanness, but plain speaking when dealing with moral uncleanness. read more
walketh. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Compare Genesis 3:8 . Leviticus 26:12 . camp. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "camps". holy = separated. See note on Exodus 3:5 . read more
Ver. 13. Thou shalt have a paddle, &c.— See Fuller's Miscellanea Sacra, lib. 6: cap. 5. The Turks, we are told, still use the same cleanliness in their camp. In all the intercourses of life, there cannot be too great a regard to natural decency, whereto this law has an immediate reference, as well as to health, to the awefulness of God's presence, to charity and friendship, lest it should be an offence to any one: and besides, this outward discipline conveyed a moral instruction; warning... read more
Personal hygiene 23:9-14Various practices, most of which we have discussed previously, rendered the Israelite encampment ceremonially unclean. The laws in these verses applied to Israel after she entered the land and, specifically, while her armies engaged in battle. The connection with the seventh commandment is that which is unseemly, especially in the area of sexual associations.The Israelites were evidently to regard human waste products as unnatural and therefore unclean. The Mosaic Law... read more
7. Laws arising from the seventh commandment 22:9-23:18The seventh commandment is, "You shall not commit adultery" (Deuteronomy 5:18). Adultery involves mixing people in a way that they should not mix. The Israelites need to keep things properly apart separate."Known elsewhere in the ancient Near East as the ’Great Sin,’ adultery epitomizes all that impurity means, whether in family, social, political, or religious life." [Note: Merrill, Deuteronomy, p. 299.] read more
Laws regarding admittance to the Congregation, cleanliness in the Camp, Unchastity, Usury, and Vows1. Shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord] i.e. not merely as priests (see Leviticus 21:16-24) but as ordinary members of the nation of Israel, all of whom are ’holy unto the Lord.’ The reference in this v. is probably to the self-mutilation practised by the devotees of certain heathen gods, and alluded to by St. Paul in Galatians 5:12: cp. Deuteronomy 14:1. 2. A bastard is understood... read more
Deuteronomy 23:9-14. 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 ceremonial uncleanness) except at the going down of the sun” (Rashi).(12) Without the camp.—It must not be forgotten that this is the camp of the army, not the whole encampment of Israel in the... read more
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 23:9-14
The whole passage refers not to the encampments of the nation while passing from Egypt through the wilderness, but to future warlike expeditions seat out from Canaan. read more