Deuteronomy 23:2

_A BASTARD SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD; EVEN TO HIS TENTH GENERATION SHALL HE NOT ENTER INTO THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD._ Even to his tenth generation х_ DOWR_ (H1755) _ `ªSIYRIY_ (H6224)] The one term rendered "generation " EVEN TO HIS TENTH GENERATION, х_ DOWR_ (H1755) _ `ªSIYRIY_ (H6224)]. The one term, rendered "generation," denotes the collective body of contemporaries (see the notes at Genesis 15:16; Exodus 1:6); the other term, "tenth," a complete number, used often in a wide sense; and here it signifies an indefinite period. These two prohibitions, whether viewed

2._A bastard shall not enter_. All agree that by the word ממזר, _mamzer_, a bastard is signified, who is born of an uncertain father; but they take it in different ways, For some extend it to all bastards who spring from fornication, whilst others imagine that it refers to those only whose origin is doubtful, and who are called _vulgo geniti_; viz, whose mothers, in their base and common prostitution of themselves, have brought it about by their gross licentiousness, that their children should be born from this monstrous medley, as it were. This second opinion I approve of most. But, by this symbol God would admonish the seed of Abraham how exalted was its dignity, as being separate from the polluted heathen. Meanwhile, He would not altogether exclude these unhappy persons from the hope of salvation, although, by no fault of their own, they were unable to give the name of their father; b...

1-8 We ought to value the privileges of God's people, both for ourselves and for our children, above all other advantages. No personal blemishes, no crimes of our forefathers, no difference of nation, shuts us out under the Christian dispensation. But an unsound heart will deprive us of blessings; and a bad example, or an unsuitable marriage, may shut our children from them....

Verse Deuteronomy 23:2. _A BASTARD SHALL NOT ENTER_] ממזר _mamzer_, which is here rendered _bastard_, should be understood as implying the _offspring_ of an illegitimate or _incestuous_ mixture....

A BASTARD - Probably, a child born of incest or adultery. EVEN TO HIS TENTH GENERATION - i. e. (see the next verse and Nehemiah 13:1), forever. Ten is the number of perfection and completeness....

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

A BASTARD SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD,.... That is born of whoredom, as the Targum of Jonathan; and for the sake of avoiding whoredom and deterring from it was this law made, according to Maimonides h, that adulterers might see, as he observes, that they affect their whole family with an irreparable stain, should they commit such an infamous action; though the Jews commonly interpret it of one that is born of any of those incestuous copulations forbidden in Leviticus 18:1 which they gather from this following upon, and being near unto one of those incests mentioned in the last verse of the preceding chapter i; and it is a rule with them k, that persons born of such copulations were reckoned bastards; now such an one, according to Jarchi, might not marry an Israelitish woman, or rather might not be admitted into the assembly of elders, or bear any public office. Jeph...

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 ...

Classes to be refused admission into the religious community. Deuteronomy 23:1. Here two, but in Leviticus 22:24 two additional methods of making eunuchs are mentioned. Such mutilations were required in Syrian and other religions, and for that reason disqualify for Yahweh's Church; but see Isaiah 56:4 f. Deuteronomy 23:2. bastard: the offspring of an incestuous union. THE ASSEMBLY OF THE LORD (Yahweh): P's designation of Israel as a religious community. The expression belongs almost wholly to post-exilic Judaism, whence and for other (unconvincing) reasons Bertholet dates...

_VER._ 2. _A BASTARD SHALL NOT ENTER,_ &C.— Some render these words, _a foreigner_ or _an alien._ See Spenc. p. 105. But Mr. Locke observes, upon the original word ממזר _mamzer,_ that it is his opinion, with Maimonides, that the _mamzer_ here spoken of, is one who cometh of any of the _nakedness, i.e._ incestuous or unlawful intercourses, forbidden in Leviticus 18. See Zechariah 9:6. Houbigant is of the same opinion with Mr. Locke. "They who translate it, _a stranger,"_ says he, "when they add the condition; _unless he become a proselyte,_ which Moses does not add, entirely change the sentence: for they assume, that if the stranger become a proselyte, he shall by this means enter into the congregation of the Lord; whereas Moses positively enjoins concerning ממזר