23:1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member
cut off, a shall not enter into the congregation of the
LORD.
(a) Either to bear office, or to marry a wife.
23:2b 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.
(b) This was to cause them to live chastely, that their
posterity might not be rejected.
23:4 Because they c 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 of Pethor of
Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
(c) By this he condemns all who do not aid the children of
God in their calling.
23:6 Thou d shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity
all thy days for ever.
(d) You shall have nothing to do with them.
23:8 The children that are begotten e of them shall enter into
the congregation of the LORD in their third generation.
(e) If the fathers have renounced their idolatry, and
received circumcision.
23:12 Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither
thou shalt (f) go forth abroad:
(f) For the necessities of nature.
23:13 And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall
be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig
therewith, and shalt turn back and g cover that which
cometh from thee:
(g) Meaning by this that his people should be pure both in
body and soul.
23:15 Thou shalt not h deliver unto his master the servant
which is escaped from his master unto thee:
(h) This is meant of the heathen , who fled because of
their masters' cruelty, and embrace the true religion.
23:18 Thou shalt not bring the i hire of a whore, or the price
of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow:
for even both these [are] abomination unto the LORD thy
God.
(i) Forbidding that any income gained from evil things
should be applied to the service of God, (Mic 2:7).
23:20 Unto a k stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto
thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD
thy God may l bless thee in all that thou settest thine
hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
(k) This was permitted for a time because of the hardness
of their hearts.
(l) If you show charity to your brother, God will declare
his love toward you.
23:23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt m keep and
perform; [even] a freewill offering, according as thou
hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised
with thy mouth.
(m) If the vow is lawful and godly.
23:24 When thou comest into n thy neighbour's vineyard, then
thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but
thou shalt not put [any] in thy o vessel.
(n) Being hired for labour.
(o) To bring home to your house.
