whore = sodomitess. Hebrew means one consecrated as such in connection with heathen worship. Hence her name kedeshah, a separated one. Compare 1 Kings 14:24 ; 1Ki 15:12 ; 1 Kings 22:46 . Job 36:14 ("unclean" = temple women). Hosea 4:14 . The Laws of Khammurabi refer to these (181, 187, 192). sodomite. First occurrence. See above note. 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
Cultic personnel 23:17-18Israelites were not to become or to dedicate their children as cult prostitutes, as the Canaanites did. They were not to offer to God money earned by prostitution to pay for a vow to Him either. The "dog" (Deuteronomy 23:18) was a male sanctuary prostitute (cf. Revelation 22:15). Such men were common in Canaanite religion. [Note: Thompson, p. 242; Payne, p. 132.] The Hebrew terms used here to describe cult prostitutes (qedesa and qades) set them off from regular... 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
(17) 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. read more
LAWS OF KINDNESSWITH the commands we now have to consider, we leave altogether the region of strict law, and enter entirely upon that of aspiration and of feeling. Kindness, by its very nature, eludes the rude compulsion of law, properly so called. It ceases to be kindness when it loses spontaneity and freedom. Precept, therefore, not law, is the utmost that any lawgiver can give in respect to it; and this is precisely what we have in Deuteronomy, so far as it endeavors to incite men to... read more
19. The Congregation of Jehovah and Its Constitution and Holiness CHAPTER 23 1. The constitution of the congregation of Jehovah (Deuteronomy 23:1-8 ) 2. The cleanness of the camp in time of war (Deuteronomy 23:9-14 ) 3. Concerning the escaped slave and the harlot (Deuteronomy 23:15-18 ) 4. Usury forbidden (Deuteronomy 23:19-20 ) 5. Concerning vows (Deuteronomy 23:21-23 ) 6. The neighbor’s vineyard and field (Deuteronomy 23:24-25 ) The congregation of Israel is called in this... read more
NECESSARY EXCLUSIONS (vs.1-8) A man who was emasculated in any way could not be recognized as one of Israel's congregation (v.1). Such mutilation deprives one of his proper masculinity. The Lord makes a clear distinction between men and women, and in the present day each has distinct functions in the assembly of God. So that the spiritual lesson for us is that we fully assume the responsibilities of our God-given place. Of course in the Church of God today one's physical deformities make no... read more
MORE REGULATIONS PUBLIC PRIVILEGES (Deuteronomy 23:1-9 ) The privileges referred to here are doubtless honors in the state and perhaps, in the case of foreigners, incorporation with Israel by marriage. Eunuchs and bastards were denied these privileges (Deuteronomy 23:1-2 ), and also members of what Gentile nations (Deuteronomy 23:3 )? What caused the latter prohibition (Deuteronomy 23:4-6 )? Such passages as Nehemiah 13:1 ; Ruth 4:10 ; and 2 Kings 10:2 show that there were some exceptions... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-25
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