Deuteronomy 23:1

CHAPTER XXIII

Neither eunuchs, bastards, Ammonites, nor Moabites, shall be

incorporated with the genuine Israelites, 1-3.

The reason why the Ammonites and Moabites were excluded, 4-6.

Edomites and Egyptians to be respected, 7.

Their descendants in the third generation may be incorporated

with the Israelites, 8.

Cautions against wickedness when they go forth against their

enemies, 9.

To keep the camp free from every defilement, and the reason why,

10-14.

The slave who had taken refuge among them is not to be delivered

up to his former master, 15, 16.

There shall be no prostitutes nor sodomites in the land, 17.

The hire of a prostitute or the price of a dog is not to be

brought into the house of God, 18.

The Israelites shall not lend on usury to each other, 19;

but they may take usury from strangers, 20.

Vows must be diligently paid, 21-23.

In passing through a vine yard or field a man may eat of the

grapes or corn, but must carry away none with him, 24, 25.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXIII

Verse Deuteronomy 23:1. Shall not enter into the congregation, c.] If by entering the congregation be meant the bearing a civil office among the people, such as magistrate, judge, c., then the reason of the law is very plain no man with any such personal defect as might render him contemptible in the sight of others should bear rule among the people, lest the contempt felt for his personal defects might be transferred to his important office, and thus his authority be disregarded. The general meaning of these words is, simply, that the persons here designated should not be so incorporated with the Jews as to partake of their civil privileges.