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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-8

Interpreters are not agreed what is here meant by entering into the congregation of the Lord, which is here forbidden to eunuchs and to bastards, Ammonites and Moabites, for ever, but to Edomites and Egyptians only till the third generation. 1. Some think they are hereby excluded from communicating with the people of God in their religious services. Though eunuchs and bastards were owned as members of the church, and the Ammonites and Moabites might be circumcised and proselyted to the Jewish... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:5

Nevertheless, the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam ,.... To his solicitations, and the methods he took to prevail on the Lord to suffer him to curse Israel, which he gladly would have done for the sake of Balak's reward: but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee ; in the very mouth of Balaam, as the Targum of Jonathan; for when he opened his mouth and Balak expected he would have cursed Israel, and he intended it, could he have been permitted, the Lord... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-6

Loss of sacred privilege a grievous penalty. In such passages as this, very much more is intended than is expressed. We have to read between the lines, for only they who lived in those days of Jewish life could comprehend the shadowy hints, the pregnant suggestions, which are here reduced to words. I. THE ABUSE OF REPRODUCTIVE VITALISM IS A GIGANTIC SIN . The law of the natural kingdom, with regard to every species of life, that its "seed should be in itself," obtains... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-8

EXPOSITION CIVIL RIGHTS . WHO MAY AND WHO MAY NOT ENTER INTO THE CONGREGATION . UNCLEANNESS IN THE CAMP TO BE AVOIDED . RECEPTION OF FUGITIVE SLAVES . LICENTIOUS PERSONS TO BE REMOVED , AND GIFTS THE PRICE OF IMPURITY TO BE REFUSED . LAWS REGARDING USURY , VOWS , AND CERTAIN DUTIES OF CITIZENSHIP . Five classes of persons are here excluded from the congregation of the Lord. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-8

Stern safeguards sometimes needed. It was no small part of the education of the Hebrew people at once to stamp as disreputable the practices of bodily mutilation which were common enough among heathen nations. The honor of the congregation of the Lord was bound up in its freedom from complicity therewith. Eunuchs and illegitimate offspring were excluded from the congregation of the Lord, lest the moral virus connected with the associations of their life should be as poison in the camp.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-8

The excluded from the congregation. Certain principles underlie these exclusions which it is worth our while to note. It will be seen that, though bars of this kind are done away in Christ, there was a fitness, under the theocracy, in the exclusion of the classes specified from full participation in covenant privilege, such exclusion being in harmony with the idea of "a holy nation"—type in earthly mold of the ideal kingdom of God. I. THE EXCLUSION OF THE MUTILATED . ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-8

The congregation of the Lord jealously guarded. There has been considerable controversy about what the term" entering into the congregation of the Lord signifies. It cannot be the Old Testament equivalent for our " communicants ," or "Church members;" for it would seem from Exodus 12:48 , Exodus 12:49 , that Jewish privileges were open to strangers on condition of their circumcision. Nor need we interpret it as merely indicating the marriage connections which Israelites were to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:5

The curse turned into a blessing. No enchantment, no curse of evil men, can prevail against the people of God. Contrariwise, God will turn the curse into a Messing. In Malachi, on the other hand, he threatens to "curse the blessings" of the wicked ( Malachi 2:2 ). How does God turn the curse into a blessing? 1. Directly, by substituting a blessing for a curse . The curse is not merely not allowed to take effect for harm, but God puts a blessing in its stead. A Divine law of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 23:3-5

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 rather to the nations than to individuals. It was not understood at any rate to interdict marriage with a Moabitess; compare Ruth 1:4; Ruth 4:13. Ruth however, and her sister were doubtless proselytes.Deuteronomy 23:4Compare the marginal reference. The Moabites and the Ammonites are to be regarded as clans of the same stock rather than as two... read more

Donald C. Fleming

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

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