Deuteronomy 23:6 NIV

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 23:6

Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever. Not that they were to retain malice towards them, or indulge a spirit of revenge, or not do them any good offices in a private way, which is contrary to the law of love; nor does this contradict any offices of kindness and friendship that might be performed in a personal way: so we find that David had a kindness for Hanun the Ammonite, and showed it, though ill rewarded for it, yet is not blamed for doing it; 2... 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 23:6

Israel was not to seek, i . e . care for and use means to promote, the welfare of these nations. Individuals, however, of these nations might be naturalized in Israel, and as proselytes enter the congregation, as the case of Ruth proves. It was against the nations, as such, that this ban was directed, and this they had brought on themselves by choosing to be enemies of Israel when they might have been friends and allies. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 23:6

i. e. “thou shalt not invite them robe on terms of amity with thee (compare Deuteronomy 20:10 ff), nor make their welfare thy 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. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 23:6

Deuteronomy 23:6. Thou shalt not seek their peace That is, make no contracts, either by marriages, or leagues, or commerce with them; but rather constantly keep a jealous eye over them, as enemies who will watch every opportunity to insnare or disturb thee. This counsel was now the more necessary, because a great part of the Israelites lived beyond Jordan in the borders of those people, and therefore God sets up this wall of partition between them, as well knowing the mischief caused by bad... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 23:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 23:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 23:6

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