Chapter 23

1
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. Deut 23:2-3, Deut 23:8; Neh 13:1-3; Isa 56:3-4; Lam 1:10


2
Isa 57:3; Zech 9:6; John 8:41; Heb 12:8


3
Ammonite These nations were subjected for their impiety, wickedness, and enmity to Israel (Deut 23:4 and Deut 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. Ruth 4:6, Ruth 4:10-22; Neh 4:3, Neh 4:7, Neh 13:1-2, Neh 13:23; Isa 56:3


4
Because they met Deut 2:28-29; Gen 14:17-18; 1Sam 25:11; 1Kgs 18:4; Isa 63:9; Zech 2:8; Matt 25:40; Acts 9:4

because they hired Num 22:5, Num 22:7, Num 22:17; Neh 13:2


5
Nevertheless Num 22:35, Num 23:5-12, Num 23:16-26, Num 24:9; Mic 6:5; Rom 8:31; 2Cor 4:17

because the Deut 7:7-8, Deut 33:3; Ps 73:1; Jer 31:3; Ezek 16:8; Mal 1:2; Rom 9:13, Rom 11:28; Eph 2:4-5


6
Thou shalt 2Sam 8:2, 2Sam 12:31; Ezra 9:12; Neh 13:23-25

prosperity Heb. good


7
he is thy Gen 25:24-26, Gen 25:30; Num 20:14; Obad 1:10-12; Mal 1:2

because thou Deut 10:19; Gen 45:17-18, Gen 46:7, Gen 47:6, Gen 47:12, Gen 47:27; Exod 22:21, Exod 23:9; Lev 19:34; Ps 105:23; Acts 7:10-18


8
enter into Deut 23:1; Rom 3:29-30; Eph 2:12-13

third generation Deut 23:2-3; Exod 20:5-6


9
Josh 6:18, Josh 7:11-13; Judg 20:26; 2Chr 19:4, 2Chr 20:3-13, 2Chr 31:20-21, 2Chr 32:1-22; Luke 3:14; Rev 19:11-14


10
Lev 15:16; Num 5:2-3; 1Cor 5:11-13


11
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; Ps 51:2, Ps 51:7; Ezek 36:25; Matt 3:11; Luke 11:38-39; Eph 5:26-27; Heb 9:9-10, Heb 10:22; 1Pet 3:21; Rev 1:5


12
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.


13
wilt ease thyself Heb. sittest down

cover that Ezek 24:6-8


14
walketh Gen 17:1; Lev 26:12; 2Cor 6:16

unclean thing Heb. nakedness of any thing


15
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.

1Sam 30:15; Obad 1:14; Phlm 1:10-19


16
shall dwell Isa 16:3-4; Luke 15:15-24; Titus 3:2-3

liketh him best Heb. is good for him

thou shalt not Exod 22:21, Exod 23:9; Jer 7:6; Zech 7:10; Mal 3:5; Jas 2:6


17
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. Deut 22:21, Deut 22:29; Lev 19:29; Prov 2:16

whore or, sodomitess, Rom 1:26

sodomite Gen 19:4-5; Judg 19:22; 1Kgs 14:24, 1Kgs 15:12, 1Kgs 22:46; 2Kgs 23:7; Rom 1:27-28; 1Cor 6:9; 1Tim 1:10


18
hire Ezek 16:33

dog Ps 22:16; Prov 26:11; Isa 56:10-11; Matt 7:6; Phil 3:2; 2Pet 2:22; Rev 22:15

any vow Deut 23:21, Deut 12:6; Lev 7:16; Ps 5:4-6; Isa 61:8; Hab 1:13; Mal 1:14


19
Exod 22:25; Lev 25:35-37; Neh 5:1-7; Ps 15:5; Ezek 18:7-8, Ezek 18:13, Ezek 18:16-18; Ezek 22:12; Luke 6:34-35


20
a stranger Deut 14:21, Deut 15:3; Lev 19:33-34

that the Deut 15:10; Prov 19:17; Isa 1:19; Luke 14:14; 1Cor 15:58


21
Deut 23:18; Gen 28:20, Gen 35:1-3; Lev 27:2-34; Num 30:2-16; Ps 56:12, Ps 66:13-14; Ps 76:11, Ps 116:18; Eccl 5:4-5; Jonah 1:16, Jonah 2:9; Nah 1:15


23
That which Num 30:2; Judg 11:30-31, Judg 11:35; 1Sam 1:11; Ps 66:13-14, Ps 116:18; Prov 20:25; Eccl 5:4-5

hast vowed 1Sam 14:24; Jer 44:25-27; Mark 6:22-23; Acts 23:12, Acts 23:21


24
thou mayest Rom 12:13; 1Cor 10:26; Heb 13:5


25
then thou mayest Matt 12:1-2; Mark 2:23; Luke 6:1-2


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