Deu 23:2-8 | NET2full | STEP | A person of illegitimate birth may not enter the assembly of the Lord ; to the tenth generation no one related to him may do so .

‏ Deuteronomy 23:2-8

2 A person of illegitimate birth ^{▼▼tn Or “a person born of an illegitimate marriage.”} may not enter the assembly of the Lord; to the tenth generation no one related to him may do so. ^{▼▼tn Heb “enter the assembly of the Lord.” The phrase “do so” has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons to avoid redundancy.}

3 No Ammonite or Moabite ^{▼▼sn An Ammonite or Moabite. These descendants of Lot by his two daughters (cf. Gen 19:30-38) were thereby the products of incest and therefore excluded from the worshiping community. However, these two nations also failed to show proper hospitality to Israel on their way to Canaan (v. 4).} may enter the assembly of the Lord; to the tenth generation none of their descendants shall ever ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew term translated “ever” (עַד־עוֹלָם, ʿad ʿolam) suggests that “tenth generation” (vv. 2, 3) also means “forever.” However, in the OT sense “forever” means not “for eternity” but for an indeterminate future time. See A. Tomasino, NIDOTTE 3:346.} do so, ^{▼▼tn Heb “enter the assembly of the Lord.” The phrase “do so” has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons to avoid redundancy.} 4 for they did not meet you with food and water on the way as you came from Egypt, and furthermore, they hired ^{▼▼tn Heb “hired against you.”} Balaam son of Beor of Pethor in Aram Naharaim to curse you. 5 But the Lord your God refused to listen to Balaam and changed ^{▼▼tn Heb “the Lord your God changed.” The phrase “the Lord your God” has not been included in the translation here for stylistic reasons to avoid redundancy. Moreover, use of the pronoun “he” could create confusion regarding the referent (the Lord or Balaam).} the curse to a blessing, for the Lord your God loves ^{▼▼tn The verb אָהֵב (ʾahev, “love”) here and commonly elsewhere in the Book of Deuteronomy speaks of God’s elective grace toward Israel. See note on the word “loved” in Deut 4:37.} you. 6 You must not seek peace and prosperity for them through all the ages to come. 7 You must not hate an Edomite, for he is your relative; ^{▼▼tn Heb “brother.”} you must not hate an Egyptian, for you lived as a foreigner ^{▼▼tn Heb “sojourner.”} ^{▼▼sn The same term ger (גֵּר) is used for the resident foreigner living in Israel and of the Israelite who lived in Egypt, despite the very different social conditions of each. A foreign resident has differing status in different countries. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, but the resident foreigner in Israel was under the same laws (civil and religious) as the Israelite and could worship the Lord as part of the covenant community. Several passages emphasize equal standing under Mosaic Law (Exod 12:49; Lev 24:22; Num 9:14; 15:15, 16, 26, 29; 19:10; 35:15; Deut 1:16) or similar obligations (Exod 20:10; 23:12; Lev 16:29; 17:10, 12, 13; 18:26; 24:16; Num 15:14).} in his land. 8 Children of the third generation born to them ^{▼▼sn Concessions were made to the Edomites and Egyptians (as compared to the others listed in vv. 1-6) because the Edomites (i.e., Esauites) were full “brothers” of Israel and the Egyptians had provided security and sustenance for Israel for more than four centuries.} may enter the assembly of the Lord.