Deuteronomy 23:5

_NEVERTHELESS THE LORD THY GOD WOULD NOT HEARKEN UNTO BALAAM; BUT THE LORD THY GOD TURNED THE CURSE INTO A BLESSING UNTO THEE, BECAUSE THE LORD THY GOD LOVED THEE._ The Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam. The obvious import of this statement is, that God would not permit Balaam to utter any imprecations against Israel, however harmless they might prove, but constrained him, by an overpowering influence, to utter, in presence of Balak and his courtiers, the highest eulogies and blessings. But Hengstenberg founds upon these words a hypothesis that Balaam, on being dismissed by the king of Moab, went directly to the Israelite camp, where being received coldly by Moses, he departed for Midian. (But see the note at Numbers 24:25.) 4th. More favour was to be shown to Edomites and Egyptians-to the former from their near relationship to Israel, and to the latter, fr

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....

This law forbids only the naturalization of those against whom it is directed. It does not forbid their dwelling in the land; and seems to refer rather to the nations than to individuals. It was not understood at any rate to interdict marriage with a Moabitess; compare Ruth 1:4; Ruth 4:13. Ruth however, and her sister were doubtless proselytes. Deuteronomy 23:4 Compare the marginal reference. The Moabites and the Ammonites are to be regarded as clans of the same stock rather than as two independent nations, and as acting together. Compare 2 Chronicles 20:1....

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

NEVERTHELESS, THE LORD THY GOD WOULD NOT HEARKEN UNTO BALAAM,.... To his solicitations, and the methods he took to prevail on the Lord to suffer him to curse Israel, which he gladly would have done for the sake of Balak's reward: BUT THE LORD THY GOD TURNED THE CURSE INTO A BLESSING UNTO THEE; in the very mouth of Balaam, as the Targum of Jonathan; for when he opened his mouth and Balak expected he would have cursed Israel, and he intended it, could he have been permitted, the Lord overruled his tongue, and put such words into his mouth, that instead of cursing Israel, he blessed him; see Numbers 23:11, BECAUSE THE LORD THY GOD LOVED THEE; and therefore would not suffer them to be cursed; for whom the Lord loves they are blessed, and shall be so in time and to eternity....

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...

DISCOURSE: 215 GOD’S CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE Deuteronomy 23:5._ The Lord thy God would not hearken unto Salaam: for the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee._ TO those who are ignorant of the way of salvation, we preach Christ crucified: for “there is no other name under heaven but his, whereby any man can be saved.” But to those who are well instructed in the fundamental truths of our holy religion, we bring forward rather what relates to the life of godliness: having laid the foundation, we endeavour to build upon it a suitable superstructure. Now, a realizing sense of God’s care and love, such a sense of his goodness as leads us to live altogether by faith upon him, is one of the sublimest attainments that can be made in this world. And to assist you in this, will be my endeavour at this time. Let us notice,

1. EXCLUSION FROM THE CONGREGATION (Deuteronomy 23:1-14) (1) PERMANENT EXCLUSION FOR THE SEXUALLY MUTILATED, CHILDREN BORN OF ILLEGITIMATE UNION AND CERTAIN ENEMY PEOPLE (Deuteronomy 23:1-6) He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah. 2 A bastard shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none of his enter into the assembly of Jehovah. 3 An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none belonging to them enter into the assembly of Jehovah for ever; 4 because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor f

LAWS REGARDING ADMITTANCE TO THE CONGREGATION, CLEANLINESS IN THE CAMP, UNCHASTITY, USURY, AND VOWS 1. Shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord] i.e. not merely as priests (see Leviticus 21:16) but as ordinary members of the nation of Israel, all of whom are 'holy unto the Lord.' The reference in this v. is probably to the self-mutilation practised by the devotees of certain heathen gods, and alluded to by St. Paul in Galatians 5:12 : cp. Deuteronomy 14:1....