Deuteronomy 23
This chapter provides various laws regarding who can enter the assembly of the Lord, purity during war, and miscellaneous moral and ceremonial regulations. The focus is on maintaining Israel's holiness, as well as kindness and justice within the community. These laws highlight the importance of obedience to God and the separation of Israel from other nations.
Deuteronomy 23:1-3 (NKJV)
1 “He who is emasculated by crushing or mutilation shall not enter the assembly of the Lord.
2 One of illegitimate birth shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord.
3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation, none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever."
These verses emphasize that certain individuals, due to their physical state, heritage, or associations, were not permitted to enter the assembly of the Lord. Physical mutilation represented a violation of the created order, while illegitimacy and connections with nations that had opposed Israel's entry into the Promised Land (like the Moabites and Ammonites) were seen as disqualifying. This distinction reflects the importance of purity and separation from foreign influences.
Deuteronomy 23:4-6 (NKJV)
4 “Because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
5 Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.
6 You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever."
The Ammonites and Moabites are specifically barred because of their hostility to Israel during the Exodus. Instead of helping the Israelites, they attempted to curse them, but God intervened and turned the curse into a blessing. These nations, as a result, were to be treated as perpetual enemies, emphasizing the consequences of opposing God’s people and the protection God offers to His followers.
Deuteronomy 23:7-8 (NKJV)
7 “You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.
8 The children of the third generation born to them may enter the assembly of the Lord."
Unlike the Ammonites and Moabites, the Edomites and Egyptians are to be treated differently. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Israel’s brother, while the Egyptians had provided shelter, albeit through slavery, to the Israelites. Their descendants could enter the assembly after three generations, showing that God recognizes different levels of enmity and allows reconciliation.
Deuteronomy 23:9-11 (NKJV)
9 “When the army goes out against your enemies, then keep yourself from every wicked thing.
10 If there is any man among you who becomes unclean by some occurrence in the night, then he shall go outside the camp; he shall not come inside the camp.
11 But it shall be, when evening comes, that he shall wash with water; and when the sun sets, he may come into the camp."
These verses emphasize the need for ceremonial cleanliness during wartime. Soldiers who became unclean due to nocturnal emissions were required to leave the camp temporarily, cleansing themselves before returning. The regulations reinforced the principle that God’s presence demanded purity and that even in warfare, spiritual cleanliness must be observed.
Deuteronomy 23:12-14 (NKJV)
12 “Also you shall have a place outside the camp, where you may go out;
13 and you shall have an implement among your equipment, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and turn and cover your refuse.
14 For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you."
God instructs the Israelites to maintain physical cleanliness in their camp, particularly regarding waste. The command to bury refuse reflects the larger principle that holiness is not just about moral purity but also extends to physical cleanliness. Since God’s presence was among them, the camp had to remain holy to ensure His continued blessing and protection.
Deuteronomy 23:15-16 (NKJV)
15 “You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you.
16 He may dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he chooses within one of your gates, where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him."
Runaway slaves from foreign nations seeking refuge among the Israelites were to be protected and not returned to their masters. This law promotes compassion and justice, offering sanctuary to those escaping harsh treatment. It demonstrates Israel's moral distinctiveness and reflects God's concern for the oppressed.
Deuteronomy 23:17-18 (NKJV)
17 “There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel.
18 You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog to the house of the Lord your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God."
These laws forbid Israel from engaging in ritual prostitution, which was common in pagan worship. Both male and female prostitution are condemned, as are offerings gained through such immoral means. This reinforces the idea that holiness extends to every aspect of life, including worship, and that God desires purity, not just externally but also in how wealth is earned.
Deuteronomy 23:19-20 (NKJV)
19 “You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest.
20 To a foreigner you may charge interest, but to your brother you shall not charge interest, that the Lord your God may bless you in all to which you set your hand in the land which you are entering to possess."
The Israelites were forbidden from charging interest to their fellow countrymen, promoting economic compassion and support within the community. However, charging interest to foreigners was allowed, indicating a distinction between how the Israelites should treat their own versus outsiders. God’s blessing was tied to this ethic of generosity and mutual care.
Deuteronomy 23:21-23 (NKJV)
21 “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you.
22 But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you.
23 That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth."
These verses emphasize the seriousness of making vows to God. Once a vow is made, it must be fulfilled without delay. Failure to do so is considered sin. However, there is no obligation to make vows in the first place. This underscores the importance of integrity and carefulness in speech when making commitments to God.
Deuteronomy 23:24-25 (NKJV)
24 “When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container.
25 When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain."
These laws allowed for communal sharing of food among neighbors, but within limits. A person could eat from a neighbor’s vineyard or grain field to satisfy immediate hunger, but they could not take more than what was necessary. This law balances generosity and personal responsibility, ensuring that while basic needs are met, the property is respected.