Deuteronomy 23:17

_THERE SHALL BE NO WHORE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF ISRAEL, NOR A SODOMITE OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL._ THERE SHALL BE NO WHORE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF ISRAEL, х_ QªDEESHAAH_ (H6948)] - a female devoted to the service of Astarte or Ashtaroth (Venus), and the profits of whose prostitution were applied to the treasury of her temples. NOR A SODOMITE, х_ QAADEESH_ (H6945)] - a male prostitute, consecrated to the worship of the same goddess. These wretched creatures, dressed in female habiliments, frequented the streets of cities, or wandered into country villages as mendicants, exhibiting small shrines of Astarte, and enticing the populace to unnatural crime. Both of these were attaches to the temple of the Syrian goddess (Lucian, 'De Dea Syra,' secs. 27, 51; Spencer, 'De Leg.,' rit. 2:, 35)....

This passage is akin to the foregoing; for in the first clause He forbids that girls should be prostituted. Some think that a whore is called in Hebrew קדשה, _kedeshah_, because she is exposed to, and _prepared _for sin; (66) but her pollution, the opposite of sanctity, seems rather to be expressed by _antiphrasis_. At any rate, a precept of chastity is given, that it should not be lawful for unmarried girls to have connection with men. In the second clause there is some ambiguity, “There shall be no קדש, _kadesh_, of the sons of Israel;” for in other passages it is clearly used for a catamite, or male harlot, but there is no reason why it should not be rendered a fornicator. In this sense the word seems to be used in the Book of Job: “The hypocrites shall die in youth, (or in the flower of their age,) and their life is among the קד

15-25 It is honourable to shelter and protect the weak, provided they are not wicked. Proselytes and converts to the truth, should be treated with particular tenderness, that they may have no temptation to return to the world. We cannot honour God with our substance, unless it be honestly and honourably come by. It must not only be considered what we give, but how we got it. Where the borrower gets, or hopes to get, it is just that the lender should share the gain; but to him that borrows for necessary food, pity must be showed. That which is gone out of thy lips, as a solemn and deliberate vow, must not be recalled, but thou shalt keep and perform it punctually and fully. They were allowed to pluck and eat of the corn or grapes that grew by the road side; only they must not carry any away. This law intimated what great plenty of corn and wine they should have in Canaan. It provided for...

Verse Deuteronomy 23:17. _THERE SHALL BE NO WHORE_] See on Genesis 38:15-1....

Compare the marginal reference. Prostitution was a common part of religious observances among idolatrous nations, especially in the worship of Ashtoreth or Astarte. Compare Micah 1:7; Baruch 6:43....

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

THERE SHALL BE NO WHORE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF ISRAEL,.... The word for "whore" is "kedeshah", which properly signifies an "holy" one; and here, by an antiphrasis, an unholy, an impure person, one that is defiled by man; Genesis 38:18. Jarchi interprets the word, one that makes herself common, that is sanctified, or set apart; that is, one that separates herself for such service, and prostitutes herself to everyone that passes by: but some understand this not of common harlots in the streets, but of sacred whores, or such as were consecrated to Heathen deities, as such there were to Venus. Strabo x tells us that the temple of Venus at Corinth was so rich, that more than a thousand of those sacred harlots were kept, whom men and women had devoted to that goddess; and so a multitude of the same sort were at Comana, which he calls little Corinth y; now these of all harlots being the most abomi...

19. THE CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH AND ITS CONSTITUTION AND HOLINESS CHAPTER 23 _ 1. The constitution of the congregation of Jehovah (Deuteronomy 23:1)_ 2. The cleanness of the camp in time of war (Deuteronomy 23:9) 3. Concerning the escaped slave and the harlot (Deuteronomy 23:15) 4. Usury forbidden (Deuteronomy 23:19) 5. Concerning vows (Deuteronomy 23:21) 6. The neighbor's vineyard and field ...

WHORE. sodomitess. Hebrew means one consecrated as such in connection with heathen worship. Hence her name _kedeshah,_. 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....

(2) MORALITY, ILLEGITIMATE PRACTICES AND WAGES (Deuteronomy 23:17-18) There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel. 18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 23:17, 18 395. Is a sodomite the masculine form of a prostitute? 396. There seems to be a strong emphasis upon sex in both the heathen nations and in the life of Israel. Why? 397. Was the practice of such persons so common that some of them claimed a place in the worship of Jehovah? Discuss. 398. It is a sad day when a dog can be used to exploit the erotic desires of man, Cf,...