Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Deuteronomy Chapter 23
Overview
Deu 23:1, Who may or may not enter into the congregation; Deu 23:9, Uncleanness is to be avoided in the host; Deu 23:15, Of the fugitive servant; Deu 23:17, Of filthiness; Deu 23:18, Of abominable sacrifices; Deu 23:19, Of usury; Deu 23:21, Of vows; Deu 23:24, Of trespasses.
wounded: Lev 21:17-21, Lev 22:22-24; Gal 3:28
shall not enter: It is evident that his law was not meant to exclude such Israelites either from the common benefits of civil society, or any essential religious advantages; but merely to lay them under a disgraceful distinction. This would tend to discourage parents from thus treating their children; a practice which was exceedingly common in those ages and countries. To this they were induced by the custom which prevailed, of employing such in the houses of the great and the courts of princes; so that they often rose to the highest posts of honour and authority. Some expositors therefore consider the phrase, "shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord," as meaning, that they should be incapable of bearing any office in that government which was placed over the people of God, who must thus enter a protest against this custom, and deliver selfish parents from this temptation. Deu 23:2, Deu 23:3, Deu 23:8; Neh 13:1-3; Isa 56:3, Isa 56:4; Lam 1:10
Isa 57:3; Zac 9:6; Joh 8:41; Heb 12:8
Ammonite: These nations were subjected for their impiety, wickedness, and enmity to Israel (Deu 23:4 and Deu 23:5), to peculiar disgrace; and on this account were not permitted to hold any office among the Israelites. This did not, however, disqualify them from becoming proselytes; for Ruth, who was a Moabitess, was married to Boaz, and became one of the progenitors of our Lord. Rut 4:6, Rut 4:10-22; Neh 4:3, Neh 4:7, Neh 13:1, Neh 13:2, Neh 13:23; Isa 56:3
Because they met: Deu 2:28, Deu 2:29; Gen 14:17, Gen 14:18; Sa1 25:11; Kg1 18:4; Isa 63:9; Zac 2:8; Mat 25:40; Act 9:4
because they hired: Num 22:5, Num 22:7, Num 22:17; Neh 13:2
Nevertheless: Num 22:35, Num 23:5-12, Num 23:16-26, Num 24:9; Mic 6:5; Rom 8:31; Co2 4:17
because the: Deu 7:7, Deu 7:8, Deu 33:3; Psa 73:1; Jer 31:3; Eze 16:8; Mal 1:2; Rom 9:13, Rom 11:28; Eph 2:4, Eph 2:5
Thou shalt: Sa2 8:2, Sa2 12:31; Ezr 9:12; Neh 13:23-25
prosperity: Heb. good
he is thy: Gen 25:24-26, Gen 25:30; Num 20:14; Oba 1:10-12; Mal 1:2
because thou: Deu 10:19; Gen 45:17, Gen 45:18, Gen 46:7, Gen 47:6, Gen 47:12, Gen 47:27; Exo 22:21, Exo 23:9; Lev 19:34; Psa 105:23; Act 7:10-18
enter into: Deu 23:1; Rom 3:29, Rom 3:30; Eph 2:12, Eph 2:13
third generation: Deu 23:2, Deu 23:3; Exo 20:5, Exo 20:6
Jos 6:18, Jos 7:11-13; Jdg 20:26; Ch2 19:4, Ch2 20:3-13, Ch2 31:20, Ch2 31:21, 32:1-22; Luk 3:14; Rev 19:11-14
Lev 15:16; Num 5:2, Num 5:3; Co1 5:11-13
when evening: Lev 11:25, Lev 15:17-23
cometh on: Heb. turneth toward
wash himself: Lev 14:9, Lev 15:5, Lev 15:11, Lev 15:13, Lev 22:6; Psa 51:2, Psa 51:7; Eze 36:25; Mat 3:11; Luk 11:38, Luk 11:39; Eph 5:26, Eph 5:27; Heb 9:9, Heb 9:10, Heb 10:22; Pe1 3:21; Rev 1:5
In such a vast camp as that of the Israelites (see Num 1:1 and Num 2:1), and indeed, as Scheuchzer remarks, in every well regulated camp, cleanliness is considered as indispensably necessary.
wilt ease thyself: Heb. sittest down
cover that: Eze 24:6-8
walketh: Gen 17:1; Lev 26:12; Co2 6:16
unclean thing: Heb. nakedness of any thing
We cannot suppose that this law required the Israelites to entertain slaves who had robbed their masters, or left their service without cause; but such only as were cruelly treated, and fled to them for protection, especially from the neighbouring nations. To such they were commanded to afford shelter, and shew great kindness.
Sa1 30:15; Oba 1:14; Plm 1:10-19
shall dwell: Isa 16:3, Isa 16:4; Luk 15:15-24; Tit 3:2, Tit 3:3
liketh him best: Heb. is good for him
thou shalt not: Exo 22:21, Exo 23:9; Jer 7:6; Zac 7:10; Mal 3:5; Jam 2:6
There shall be: etc. The prohibition in the text, like many others, has no direct application to practices that were common among the Israelites at that time; but was intended to guard them against the enormities which were practised among the surrounding nations. Deu 22:21, Deu 22:29; Lev 19:29; Pro 2:16
whore: or, sodomitess, Rom 1:26
sodomite: Gen 19:4, Gen 19:5; Jdg 19:22; Kg1 14:24, Kg1 15:12, Kg1 22:46; Kg2 23:7; Rom 1:27, Rom 1:28; Co1 6:9; Ti1 1:10
hire: Eze 16:33
dog: Psa 22:16; Pro 26:11; Isa 56:10, Isa 56:11; Mat 7:6; Phi 3:2; Pe2 2:22; Rev 22:15
any vow: Deu 23:21, Deu 12:6; Lev 7:16; Psa 5:4-6; Isa 61:8; Hab 1:13; Mal 1:14
Exo 22:25; Lev 25:35-37; Neh 5:1-7; Psa 15:5; Eze 18:7, Eze 18:8, Eze 18:13, Eze 18:16-18; Eze 22:12; Luk 6:34, Luk 6:35
a stranger: Deu 14:21, Deu 15:3; Lev 19:33, Lev 19:34
that the: Deu 15:10; Pro 19:17; Isa 1:19; Luk 14:14; Co1 15:58
Deu 23:18; Gen 28:20, Gen 35:1-3; Lev. 27:2-34; Num 30:2-16; Psa 56:12, Psa 66:13, Psa 66:14; Psa 76:11, Psa 116:18; Ecc 5:4, Ecc 5:5; Jon 1:16, Jon 2:9; Nah 1:15
That which: Num 30:2; Jdg 11:30, Jdg 11:31, Jdg 11:35; Sa1 1:11; Psa 66:13, Psa 66:14, Psa 116:18; Pro 20:25; Ecc 5:4, Ecc 5:5
hast vowed: Sa1 14:24; Jer 44:25-27; Mar 6:22, Mar 6:23; Act 23:12, Act 23:21
thou mayest: Rom 12:13; Co1 10:26; Heb 13:5
then thou mayest: Mat 12:1, Mat 12:2; Mar 2:23; Luk 6:1, Luk 6:2